Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Remains of Shattered Moon Found in Saturn's Rings

Posted by samzenpus on from the deathstar-wanted-for-questioning dept.

Riding with Robots writes "Scientists have announced that they have used images from the robotic spacecraft Cassini to find moonlets embedded in Saturn's outer rings that are likely the remains of a larger moon that was shattered by an asteroid or comet. The team from the University of Colorado at Boulder that made the discovery has now posted details and pictures."

5 of 112 comments (clear)

  1. Expected, but cool nevertheless by BadAnalogyGuy · · Score: 5, Informative

    The presence of planetary rings indicates a relatively recent astronomical event like this. Since Saturn has these pronounced rings, it cannot have been too long ago (in cosmic terms) that something like a moon or large planetoid was disintegrated in its vicinity. Eventually, the gravity of Saturn will suck the rings in and the cool ringed planet will become the ex-ringed planet.

    Neptune is another planet with rings which are far fainter, so it is likely that Neptune's lunar disintegration event happened to a much smaller object somewhat longer ago.

    Uranus, if it ever had rings, has swept clean its area. While not as pretty as a ringed planet, Uranus may pose less of a danger to probes since less damaging material encircles the planet.

    1. Re:Expected, but cool nevertheless by DJCacophony · · Score: 2, Informative

      Eventually, the gravity of Saturn will suck the rings in

      The particles in Saturns rings are in no more of a decaying orbit around Saturn than the Moon is around Earth. The demise of the rings around Saturn will occur when they eventually dissipate into space over the course of tens of millions of years.

      --
      Slow Down, Cowboy! It's been 60 minutes since you last successfully posted a comment.
    2. Re:Expected, but cool nevertheless by Chibi+Merrow · · Score: 4, Informative

      Uranus, if it ever had rings, has swept clean its area.


      Uranus has rings right now...

      No, that's not a joke, I'm serious, it does.
      --
      Maxim: People cannot follow directions.
      Increases in truth directly with the length of time spent explaining them
  2. Re:So, what do the rings look like from inside? by sighted · · Score: 4, Informative

    These Cassini images are interesting, too, and I think relate to the main story.

    --
    Saddle up: Riding with Robots
  3. Re:Myth Busters by argStyopa · · Score: 3, Informative

    Believe me, we're working on it. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Space_junk

    Thanks China for your latest contribution to the Greater Terra Ring Project!

    --
    -Styopa