Cassini images show potential formation of new moon of Saturn
Posted: Wed, Apr 16, 2014, 6:41 AM ET (1041 GMT)
Images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft show what scientists believe may be the formation of a tiny new moon on the edge of the Saturn's rings. The images, taken last April, show a disturbance on the edge of the planet's outermost ring and protuberances that scientists believe is caused by the formation of a moon no more than a kilometer across. The object, informally nicknamed "Peggy", could also be breaking apart. Cassini is expected to make more observations of the object in 2016 when it moves closer to the rings in the final phases of its mission. Scientists believe studies of the object should provide new insights into the formation of other icy moons orbiting Saturn and the evolution of the planet's ring system. Scientists reported the discovery of the object in a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Icarus.
Images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft show what scientists believe may be the formation of a tiny new moon on the edge of the Saturn's rings. The images, taken last April, show a disturbance on the edge of the planet's outermost ring and protuberances that scientists believe is caused by the formation of a moon no more than a kilometer across. The object, informally nicknamed "Peggy", could also be breaking apart. Cassini is expected to make more observations of the object in 2016 when it moves closer to the rings in the final phases of its mission. Scientists believe studies of the object should provide new insights into the formation of other icy moons orbiting Saturn and the evolution of the planet's ring system. Scientists reported the discovery of the object in a paper published in the latest issue of the journal Icarus.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Apex becomes billion-dollar company with $200 million Series D round
Posted: Sun, Sep 14 4:09 AM ET (0809 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, September 17
Falcon 9 launch of Starlink satellites scheduled for Wednesday morning
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) Colorado Springs springs into action amid loss of Space Command
Washington Times — 1:34 am ET (0534 GMT) SpaceX rocket-launching license survives NEPA challenge
POLITICO — 1:30 am ET (0530 GMT) SpaceX Eyes First Starship Version 3 Launch In ’25 Or ’26
Aviation Week — 1:29 am ET (0529 GMT) Judge dismisses suit challenging SpaceX's Starship approval
Houston Chronicle — 1:28 am ET (0528 GMT) |
