Moon creates "giant snowballs" in Saturn's rings
Posted: Wed, Jul 21, 2010, 5:42 AM ET (0942 GMT)
Scientists have spotted giant "snowballs" of icy materials in the rings of Saturn created by the gravity of a passing moon. Observations by NASA's Cassini spacecraft show clumps of material forming in the planet's F ring, creating objects as large as 20 kilometers in diameter. The objects, scientists said, are created by gravitational disturbances from the moon Prometheus, one of two "shepherding" moons that keeps the narrow ring in place. Many of these objects break apart in a matter of months, but some can escape, scientists said; this may explain a small moon discovered in 2004 that intersects the ring at times, creating debris.
Scientists have spotted giant "snowballs" of icy materials in the rings of Saturn created by the gravity of a passing moon. Observations by NASA's Cassini spacecraft show clumps of material forming in the planet's F ring, creating objects as large as 20 kilometers in diameter. The objects, scientists said, are created by gravitational disturbances from the moon Prometheus, one of two "shepherding" moons that keeps the narrow ring in place. Many of these objects break apart in a matter of months, but some can escape, scientists said; this may explain a small moon discovered in 2004 that intersects the ring at times, creating debris.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Monday, February 13
Air Force pares contracts in cost-reduction move
Washington Post — 4:36 am ET (0936 GMT) Bang! Zoom! Straight to the moon!
Jacksonville (NC) Daily News — 4:32 am ET (0932 GMT) Glenn stands behind continued exploration
Zanesville (OH) Times-Recorder — 4:31 am ET (0931 GMT) Countdown to Poland's first ever satellite launch
Polskie Radio — 4:29 am ET (0929 GMT) Isro chief: No dent on image
PTI — 4:26 am ET (0926 GMT) |