.
.
Saturn’s Prometheus
.
.
Saturn’s a planet with myriad moons
that orbit around in a splendid hem
with differing forms like blown-up balloons,
Prometheus moon being one of them.
.
Officially after the Titan named,
by space probe Voyager One it was found
though unlike in Aeschylus’ drama famed
Prometheus here is to Saturn bound.
.
This shepherd satellite for the F ring
with shape elongated in the extreme
has quite a chaotic orbital swing
as part of complex Saturnian scheme.
.
With density low yet albedo high
it would seem to be icy and porous;
technical terms by the score could apply
plus a multitude more in thesaurus.
.
Because much uncertainty still remains
it appears further flybys are needed.
Oh that our wisdom could equal our brains,
or that wise admonitions were heeded...
.
If ‘fire’ is metaphorically meant
as symbol for fire of burning desire,
then though it’s present in any event,
when unenlightened, results can be dire.
.
By stealing the fire to help Man exist
and for which he was punished severely,
Prometheus tried Mankind to assist,
yet our usage of fire matters dearly.
.
.
~ Harley White
.
.
* * * * * * * * *
.
.
PROMETHEUS.
Whom the Gods would destroy they first make mad.
.
From: ‘The Masque of Pandora’, by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
.
Prometheus (moon) ~ Wikipedia…
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prometheus_(moon)
.
Saturn’s moon Prometheus seen up close (Astronomy Now)…
https://astronomynow.com/2015/12/09/saturns-moon-prometheus-seen-up-close/
.
Explanation: Saturn’s moon Prometheus imaged by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft on 6 December 2015. NASA’s Cassini spacecraft spied details on the pockmarked surface of Saturn’s moon Prometheus (86 kilometres, or 53 miles across) during a moderately close flyby. This is one of Cassini’s highest resolution views of Prometheus
.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute.
#poetry