Pandora is a moon of Saturn named after the Greek mythological figure who opened a jar. The satellite orbits the ringed planet near Saturn’s narrow F ring.
Pandora was discovered in Voyager 1 images in 1980 and was later recognized as an outer shepherd moon. Its gravitational influence helps confine the F ring, working together with the inner shepherd moon Prometheus. This makes the moon important in studies of how small satellites shape planetary rings.
Saturn has many moons named from Greek and Roman mythology, but its naming system is not limited to one family of figures. Pandora and Prometheus are linked to the story of humanity’s suffering, while other Saturnian moons carry names associated with Titans, giants, or other mythological groups.
The mythological Pandora is not the same entity as the astronomical moon. The name is a commemorative label chosen by astronomers, as is common for planetary satellites. The moon is small, irregular, and far removed from the cultural story that inspired its name.