Saturn's mysterious G ring up close

2007/08/03 Rementeria Argote, Nagore - Elhuyar Zientziaren Komunikazioa

• Astronautika
• Astronomia

Since the Voyager ship first taught him the G ring of Saturn, astronomers try to know the origin of this ring. The other known rings are closer to Saturn or some of its satellites, so they relate their origin to the corresponding planet or satellite. The G ring, however, is located 168,000 kilometers from Saturn and 15,000 kilometers from the nearest satellite, too far to link directly with the creation of the ring, according to experts.

Now, the Cassini has collected new data on the structure of the ring, including its composition in frozen bodies, from centimeters to a meter of materials. Astronomers expect this data to be closer to the origin of the G ring.

Photo: Cassini Imaging Team and NASA/JPL/SSI.