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[[Giovanni Domenico Cassini]] discovered Iapetus in 1671. However, he noted that he could reliably observe Iapetus only on the western side of [[Saturn]], and never on the eastern side. In 1705 he observed Iapetus on the eastern side, with an improved telescope, and noted that it was two visual magnitudes dimmer on that side.

[[Giovanni Domenico Cassini]] discovered Iapetus in 1671. However, he noted that he could reliably observe Iapetus only on the western side of [[Saturn]], and never on the eastern side. In 1705 he observed Iapetus on the eastern side, with an improved telescope, and noted that it was two visual magnitudes dimmer on that side.

After his discovery of Iapetus, Cassini discovered three other moons ([[Tethys]], [[Dione]], and [[Rhea]]) in the ensuing years, during the reign of "Sun-King" [[Louis XIV]] of [[France]].<ref name=usgs/> Cassini named these moons the "Sidera Lodoicea" in honor of the king. Later generations (especially after the French Revolution) would not retain such regal flattery.<ref name=Boulay>Boulay, J. C. "[http://jcboulay.free.fr/astro/sommaire/astronomie/univers/galaxie/etoile/systeme_solaire/saturne/satellites/page_saturne_satellites1.htm Saturne: les satellites]." ''Astronomie-astronautique''. Accessed June 5, 2008.</ref>

After his discovery of Iapetus, Cassini discovered three other moons ([[Tethys (moon)|Tethys]], [[Dione (moon)|Dione]], and [[Rhea (moon)|Rhea]]) in the ensuing years, during the reign of "Sun-King" [[Louis XIV]] of [[France]].<ref name=usgs/> Cassini named these moons the "Sidera Lodoicea" in honor of the king. Later generations (especially after the French Revolution) would not retain such regal flattery.<ref name=Boulay>Boulay, J. C. "[http://jcboulay.free.fr/astro/sommaire/astronomie/univers/galaxie/etoile/systeme_solaire/saturne/satellites/page_saturne_satellites1.htm Saturne: les satellites]." ''Astronomie-astronautique''. Accessed June 5, 2008.</ref>

Sir John Herschel, son of the astronomer [[William Herschel]], suggested the current names of the seven largest satellites of Saturn, including Iapetus. [[Titan]] received a generic name, and the other six received names of the Titans of mythology. Iapetus was one of four brothers who conspired with Kronos or Cronus to depose Uranus, father of all the gods.<ref name=Lasell>Lassell, William. "[http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/seri/MNRAS/0008//0000042.000.html Satellites of Saturn]." ''Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society'', 8(3):42-43, January 14, 1848. Accessed June 4, 2008.</ref>

Sir John Herschel, son of the astronomer [[William Herschel]], suggested the current names of the seven largest satellites of Saturn, including Iapetus. [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] received a generic name, and the other six received names of the Titans of mythology. Iapetus was one of four brothers who conspired with Kronos or Cronus to depose Uranus, father of all the gods.<ref name=Lasell>Lassell, William. "[http://articles.adsabs.harvard.edu/full/seri/MNRAS/0008//0000042.000.html Satellites of Saturn]." ''Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society'', 8(3):42-43, January 14, 1848. Accessed June 4, 2008.</ref>

== Orbital characteristics ==

== Orbital characteristics ==