ABSTRACT
The small satellite Enceladus is moving near the equatorial plane and deep in the gravity field of the giant planet Saturn. Owing to tidal interaction with its primary, Enceladus has adopted a pronounced three-axial ellipsoidal shape and is tidally locked. Its common rotational and orbital periods are about 1.37 days. As the equator of Saturn is inclined to the planet’s orbital plane, Enceladus has pronounced seasons. This paper summarizes our current knowledge regarding the geodetic and dynamic parameters of this unique satellite. With the observed cryo-volcanism at the south pole, Enceladus is thought to harbor a water ocean beneath its icy crust and represents therefore a prime target for future space exploration. We point out that the years 2032/2033 will be very favorable for a lander mission in the south-pole area, which benefits from permanent illumination at that time.
