Mapping Rings with Starlight
By carefully observing as Saturn’s rings pass in front of stars, scientists have been able to piece together a more accurate model of how the rings are structured. The researchers were surprised to discover the ring material in the densest parts tends to group together in clumps, with empty spaces in between, all “neatly organized and constantly colliding.” One implication is that the rings may weigh two to three times more than previously thought. In the false color image above, the clumps themselves are too small to see, but the colors indicate their orientation, and the brightness indicates their density. Learn more.
May 23, 2007
Riding with Robots:
