100-metre-diameter moonlets in Saturn's A ring from observations of 'propeller' structures

Article Abstract:

The observation of four longitudinal double-streaks in an otherwise bland part of Mid-A ring of Saturn which are propeller shaped perturbations(super 3-5) arising from the effects of embedded moonlets approximately 40 to 120 m in diameter are reported. The existence of such large embedded moonlets is most naturally compatible with a ring originating in the break-up of a larger body(super 8-11), but accretion from a circumplanetary disk(super 12) is also plausible if subsequent growth onto large particles occurs after the primary accretion phase has concluded.

author: Richardson, Derek C., Burns, Joseph A., Murray, Carl D., Porco, Carolyn C., Dones, Luke, Tiscareno, Matthew S., Hedman, Matthew M., Weiss, John W.
Astronomical research

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How Prometheus creates structure in Saturn's F ring

Article Abstract:

Numerical models show that as Prometheus recedes from its closest approach to the F ring, it draws out ring material, and after one orbital period, the affected region has undergone keplerian shear and is visible as a channel, in excellent agreement with structures seen in the Cassini images. The model predicts that the appearance of streamers and the associated channels would vary in regular fashion on a timescale of one orbital period.

author: Murray, Carl D., Porco, Carolyn C., Cooper, Nick, Evans, Michael W., Chavez, Carlos, Beurle, Kevin, Bruns, Joseph A.
Discovery and exploration, Cassini (Space probe)

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Imaging of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft

Article Abstract:

The observations of Titan from the imaging science experiment onboard the Cassini spacecraft are presented to address the issue of Titan's nature. Some of these observations imply that convective clouds are found to be common near the South Pole, and the motion of mid-latitude clouds consistently indicates eastward winds, from which it is inferred that the troposphere is rotating faster than the surface.

author: Johnson, Torrence V., Giese, Bernd, Murray, Carl D., Jacobson, Robert A., Veverka, Joseph, Porco, Carolyn C., Baker, Emily, Barbara, John, Vasavada, Ashwin R., Charnoz, Sebastien, Cooper, Nick, Dawson, Douglas, Genio, Anthony D. Del, Denk, Tilmann, Dones, Luke, Dyudina, Ulyana, Evans, Michael W., Fussner, Stephanie, Grazier, Kevin, Helfenstein, Paul, Ingersoll, Andrew P., McEwen, Alfred, Neukum, Gerhard, Owen, William
Science & research, Research, Satellite imaging, Titan (Satellite)

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subjects list: Observations, Saturn (Planet), Saturn probes, United States
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