Pandora, the Saturn moon named after the mythological figure, has the official designation Saturn XVII.
The Roman numeral XVII means 17, and the designation reflects Pandora’s position in Saturn’s historical satellite numbering system. It is a formal astronomical label used alongside the moon’s mythological name, not a separate object.
Voyager 1 discovered Pandora in 1980 while observing Saturn. The satellite is a small outer shepherd of Saturn’s F ring and is one of several moons whose gravitational interactions help shape the planet’s ring system.
Numerical designations for moons can be confusing because discoveries, confirmations, and naming decisions have occurred over many years. A moon’s Roman-numeral designation is not necessarily a simple count of every satellite known today. Pandora is also sometimes identified in technical contexts by its provisional designation, S/1980 S 26.