Abstract

Topographic models of Saturn's F-Ring shepherd satellites Prometheus and Pandora were derived from the shapes of limbs and terminators in Voyager images, modified locally to accommodate large craters and ridges. The models are presented here in tabular and graphic form, including the first published maps of the satellites. The shape of Prometheus is approximated by a triaxial ellipsoid with axes of 145, 85 and 60 km. The volume is estimated to be 3.9 ± 1.0 × 105 km3, significantly smaller than previous estimates. A system of prominent ridges and valleys cross the north polar region. Prometheus appears to be less heavily cratered than the other small satellites near the edge of the rings, though this may be an artifact of the low resolution of available images. Pandora is approximated by a triaxial ellipsoid with axes of 114, 84 and 62 km. The volume is estimated to be 3.1 ± 1.0 × 105 km3. Its surface appears to be very heavily cratered.

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