Pandora has the same rotation period as Earth

[Sothis]

So, does that mean that every 24-ish hours, pandora makes a complete revolution around polyphemus? Also, does "tidally locked" mean simply that the same side of pandora is facing polyphemus at all times, or does it also mean that pandora is always over the same point on polyphemus and it therefore revolves at the same rate that polyphemus rotates?

Anyway, thanks for this information! I've been pondering this exact question for the purposes of fanfic. I must say, it would make my life easier if pandora's diurnal cycles were approximately the same as earth's in the canon, even if that's actually scientifically unlikely.

[ISV Venture Star]

Originally Posted by Sothis

So, does that mean that every 24-ish hours, pandora makes a complete revolution around polyphemus? Also, does "tidally locked" mean simply that the same side of pandora is facing polyphemus at all times, or does it also mean that pandora is always over the same point on polyphemus and it therefore revolves at the same rate that polyphemus rotates?

The former. The latter is generally only found in systems where the physical separation and difference in mass between the two bodies is much smaller (Pluto-Charon).

Originally Posted by Sothis

Anyway, thanks for this information! I've been pondering this exact question for the purposes of fanfic. I must say, it would make my life easier if pandora's diurnal cycles were approximately the same as earth's in the canon, even if that's actually scientifically unlikely.

Maybe not too unlikely. Mars has a rotation period that's very similar to the Earth. The only issue might be having Pandora close enough to Polyphemus to give it a 24 hour orbital period. I might try playing with the numbers to see if I can make things work out without having to disregard what the ASG says about Polyphemus.