Pan

Pan is the innermost regular shepherd moon of Saturn. It is small, shaped like a ravioli, and is 
approximately 35 kilometers across and 23 kilometers wide. Pan orbits within the Encke Gap, in Saturn's A ring. Pan is a shepherd moon, meaning that it helps keep the Encke Gap clear of debris.
The walnut-shaped moon was discovered in 1990 from analysis of old Voyager 2 probe photos. It received the provisional designation S/1981 S 13, because the images dated back to the latter.
== Name ==
The moon was named on 16 September 1991, after the mythological Pan, who was (among other things) was the god of shepherds. Pan was also designated Saturn XVIII.
== Orbit ==
The eccentricity of Pan's orbit causes its distance from Saturn to fluctuate by ~4 km. Its inclination, which would cause it to move up and down, is not distinguishable from zero with present data. The Encke Gap, within which Pan orbits, is about 325 km wide.
== Geography ==
Scientists have described Pan as "walnut or ravioli-shaped", owing to its equatorial ridge, similar to that on Iapetus, Daphnis or (most extremely) Atlas. The ridge is so large, it is easily visible in images.
== Gallery ==
File:Pan (moon) edge-on.jpg|Pan, with its ridge seen head-on.
File:Pan side view.jpg|Pan, seen from the side, through the rings.
Category:Saturnian Moons
Category:Shepherd Moon
Category:Objects with Equatorial Ridges
Category:Objects with No Atmosphere
Category:Objects Not in Hydrostatic Equilibrium
Category:Outer Solar System Object
Category:Moons
Category:Inner Moon of Saturn
Category:Prograde Satellite
Category:Named Objects
Category:Named Moons
Category:Numbered Objects
Category:Numbered Moons
Category:Objects Visited by Spacecraft