Pandora is the Saturnian moon that shares its name with the mythological figure Pandora.
Pandora is a small inner moon of Saturn. It was discovered in 1980 by Voyager 1 images, although the discovery was announced after the spacecraft’s encounter with Saturn. The moon orbits near Saturn’s narrow F ring and helps act as an outer shepherd of that ring.
Its name comes from Greek mythology, following a naming tradition used for many Saturnian satellites. Pandora’s nearby companion Prometheus acts as the F ring’s inner shepherd. Their gravitational influence contributes to the ring’s intricate structure.
Pandora the moon should not be confused with 55 Pandora, an asteroid in the main belt. It is also different from fictional settings that borrow the name. In astronomy, the moon’s designation identifies a natural satellite of Saturn.