One of the least dense bodies known

What 0.31 g/cm³ means.

Published 2026-10-23

Methone’s estimated density is about 0.31 g/cm³ (+0.05/−0.03).^[1]

For comparison

Water is 1 g/cm³. Methone is less than a third as dense.

Icy fluff

Its surface may be largely icy fluff, mobile enough to erase craters.^[1]

Smoothing

Its low-density regolith may smooth its surface faster than on rigid moonlets such as Janus or Epimetheus; electrostatic effects may also help.^[1]

Numbered citations link to the sources list on the Methone overview page.