The Only Moons That Trade Places

The video explores the unique orbital relationship between Saturn's moons Janus and Epimetheus. Discovered in the 1960s, these moons share a one-to-one resonance, switching orbits every four years. Unlike typical celestial bodies in such arrangements, Janus and Epimetheus are similar in size. The Cassini spacecraft provided detailed observations, revealing that these moons are likely rocky rubble piles with craters, possibly contributing to a faint ring around Saturn. Their orbital dance is a rare phenomenon in our solar system.

Describe the discovery process of Janus and Epimetheus as mentioned in the text.

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What unique characteristic do Janus and Epimetheus share in their orbits around Saturn?

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How do Janus and Epimetheus switch their orbits every four years?

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Explain the gravitational interaction between Janus and Epimetheus during their orbital dance.

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What did the Cassini spacecraft reveal about the physical characteristics of Janus and Epimetheus?

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