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The determination of the structure of Saturn’s F ring by nearby moonlets

Author

Listed:
  • Carl D. Murray

    (Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK)

  • Kevin Beurle

    (Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK)

  • Nicholas J. Cooper

    (Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK)

  • Michael W. Evans

    (Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK)

  • Gareth A. Williams

    (Astronomy Unit, Queen Mary, University of London, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK)

  • Sébastien Charnoz

    (C. E. de Saclay, Université Paris 7, L’Orme de Merisiers, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette Cedex, France)

Abstract

Saturn’s narrow F ring exhibits several unusual features that vary on timescales of hours to years. These include transient clumps, a central core surrounded by a multistranded structure and a regular series of longitudinal channels associated with Prometheus, one of the ring’s two ‘shepherding’ satellites. Several smaller moonlets and clumps have been detected in the ring’s immediate vicinity, and a population of embedded objects has been inferred. Here we report direct evidence of moonlets embedded in the ring’s bright core, and show that most of the F ring’s morphology results from the continual gravitational and collisional effects of small satellites, often combined with the perturbing effect of Prometheus. The F-ring region is perhaps the only location in the Solar System where large-scale collisional processes are occurring on an almost daily basis.

Suggested Citation

  • Carl D. Murray & Kevin Beurle & Nicholas J. Cooper & Michael W. Evans & Gareth A. Williams & Sébastien Charnoz, 2008. "The determination of the structure of Saturn’s F ring by nearby moonlets," Nature, Nature, vol. 453(7196), pages 739-744, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:453:y:2008:i:7196:d:10.1038_nature06999
    DOI: 10.1038/nature06999
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