Saturn rings may be remnant of large moon
Posted: Tue, Dec 14, 2010, 6:42 AM ET (1142 GMT)
Saturn's icy rings may be the remnant of a large moon that collided with the planet early in its history, scientists reported this week. Computer models show that the formation of the rings, comprised almost entirely of water ice, can be explained by a Titan-sized moon spiraling in towards Saturn. Tidal heating would cause the moon to differentiate, creating an icy mantle and rocky core. Tidal forces eventually stripped those icy outer layers off before the moon collided with the planet, creating the raw material that later spread out and formed the planet's rings. This approach better explains the composition of the rings than past explanations, where a comet collided with a smaller satellite; that would create a larger fraction of rocky material in the rings than has been detected.
Saturn's icy rings may be the remnant of a large moon that collided with the planet early in its history, scientists reported this week. Computer models show that the formation of the rings, comprised almost entirely of water ice, can be explained by a Titan-sized moon spiraling in towards Saturn. Tidal heating would cause the moon to differentiate, creating an icy mantle and rocky core. Tidal forces eventually stripped those icy outer layers off before the moon collided with the planet, creating the raw material that later spread out and formed the planet's rings. This approach better explains the composition of the rings than past explanations, where a comet collided with a smaller satellite; that would create a larger fraction of rocky material in the rings than has been detected.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Report outlines cost growth in canceled NASA exploration programs
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:14 AM ET (1514 GMT) Perseverance Mars rover finds more potential biosignatures
Posted: Sat, Jun 27 11:12 AM ET (1512 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, July 2
President Meloni receives ESA astronaut Parmitano
Government of Italy — 3:05 am ET (0705 GMT) China-Europe Earth observation cooperation moves toward greater complementarity: ESA official
Xinhua — 3:04 am ET (0704 GMT) Launch Date Confirmed for Seven GRUS-3 Earth Observation Microsatellites
Axelspace — 3:03 am ET (0703 GMT) Blue Origin Doubles Down On Return To Flight This Year
Aviation Week — 3:00 am ET (0700 GMT) The SpaceX IPO tells one story. Here is the more important one.
Space News — 2:58 am ET (0658 GMT) |
