Helene

Helene

Helene is a small moon of Saturn that occupies a stable position known as a Lagrange point, specifically the L4 Lagrange point located 60 degrees ahead of the larger moon Dione in its orbit around Saturn. This unique position makes Helene a "Trojan moon," sharing its orbital path with Dione. Helene has a diameter of about 32 kilometers (20 miles) and is primarily composed of water ice and rocky material. Its surface features are less known due to its small size and distance, but images from the Cassini spacecraft revealed a somewhat irregular shape and impact craters. Helene is thought to be a captured asteroid or a fragment from a larger body disrupted by impacts. Its Lagrange point location is a result of a complex interplay of gravitational forces between Saturn, Dione, and Helene itself.