Bleriot

Cassini image directed at Bleriot.
Discovery
Discovered by	Cassini Imaging Team
Discovery date	2005
Orbital characteristics
Eccentricity	≈ 0.000
Inclination	≈ 0.0
Satellite of	Saturn
Group	A ring moonlet
Physical characteristics
Mean diameter	860±140 m [1]
Synodic rotation period	assumed synchronous

Bleriot (or Blériot), is the informal name for a propeller moonlet within Saturn's A Ring. The moon is about 860 metres (2,820 ft) across, making it the largest of these propeller moonlets. It has been tracked by the Cassini Imaging Team for the past decade. ^[2]

Bleriot has been subject to some scientific studies due to its large size and has helped scientists improve their understanding the interactions between objects within Saturn's rings. ^{[3] [4]} The orbit of Bleriot has some anomalies such as that it sometimes is much further behind or ahead than is predicted to be. ^{[3] [5]}

The name comes from French aviator Louis Blériot, who was the first person to fly across the English Channel. ^{[2] [3]}

Due to its small size, Bleriot cannot be directly imaged, it can only be noticed by the "propeller-shaped" disturbances it creates around it. ^[1]

See also

• Peggy (moonlet)
• S/2009 S 1

References

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