Cassini detects evidence for rings around Saturn moon
Posted: Fri, Mar 7, 2008, 6:09 AM ET (1109 GMT)
A moon of the planet Saturn may have a faint ring around it, possibly composed of the remnants of a collision with a comet or asteroid, scientists announced Thursday. In a paper published in the current issue of Science, researchers reported the discovery of a broad debris disk and at least one ring around Rhea, a moon about 1,500 kilometers in diameter. The disk and ring were not imaged directly, but instead detected by monitoring drops in electron flux by two instruments on the spacecraft as it flew past the moon in November 2005. The sudden, brief drops in electrons matched up on both sides of Rhea, leading scientists to conclude that one or more rings exist within the debris disk. The most likely origin for the rings is a comet or asteroid collision with Rhea that threw up a cloud of gas and dust that went into orbit around the moon; the gas quickly dissipated but the debris remained.
A moon of the planet Saturn may have a faint ring around it, possibly composed of the remnants of a collision with a comet or asteroid, scientists announced Thursday. In a paper published in the current issue of Science, researchers reported the discovery of a broad debris disk and at least one ring around Rhea, a moon about 1,500 kilometers in diameter. The disk and ring were not imaged directly, but instead detected by monitoring drops in electron flux by two instruments on the spacecraft as it flew past the moon in November 2005. The sudden, brief drops in electrons matched up on both sides of Rhea, leading scientists to conclude that one or more rings exist within the debris disk. The most likely origin for the rings is a comet or asteroid collision with Rhea that threw up a cloud of gas and dust that went into orbit around the moon; the gas quickly dissipated but the debris remained.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, November 5
Marles claims JP9102 axing is 'change of direction, not cancellation', as industry picks up the pieces
Defence Connect (Australia) — 5:55 am ET (1055 GMT) SpaceX Cargo Dragon Heads To Space Station
Aviation Week — 5:52 am ET (1052 GMT) Centaur upper stage installation recognizes trailblazing space program
US Space Force — 5:50 am ET (1050 GMT) Fifth time’s a charm as H3 rocket puts defense satellite in orbit
Japan Times — 5:47 am ET (1047 GMT) Why it costs India so little to reach the Moon and Mars
BBC — 5:46 am ET (1046 GMT) |
