Pandora is the Saturnian moon named after the mythological Pandora, and it helps shepherd Saturn’s narrow F ring. It is one of the small moons orbiting near the planet’s ring system and works gravitationally with Prometheus, which orbits on the other side of the F ring.
Voyager 1 images led to the discovery of Pandora in 1980. The moon’s irregular, heavily cratered appearance distinguishes it from Saturn’s larger, more spherical satellites. Its orbit and relationship with Prometheus make it especially important in studies of the changing structure of the F ring.
Pandora is not the only astronomical object named after a figure from the myth. The asteroid 55 Pandora also carries the name, but it is a separate body in the main asteroid belt.
The moon should not be confused with Epimetheus or Janus, which are another interacting pair of Saturnian moons. Pandora’s most recognizable astronomical association is its role near the F ring.