Possible New Satellite of Saturn

Mr. R. L. Walker, U.S. Naval Observatory, Flagstaff Station, reports that a bright spot, presumably the new satellite of Saturn, appears near the eastern edge of the ring on four plates taken with the 61-inch telescope on 1966 December 18.16. The spot moved between exposures and was of magnitude 13.5. Dr. G. P. Kuiper, Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, informs us that several hundred photographs of Saturn were taken with the 61-inch Cataline reflector during October, November and December. The ring could be photographed at all times, even when edge on. Between the nodal passages, when the dark side was facing the earth, the ring presented a stationary notched appearance. Satellites were recorded only to magnitude 13, and all those observed are accounted for. Dr. Kuiper will obtain additional exposures to confirm whether a new satellite exists.