b-body-bob
Well-known member
How cool is this? Cassini Finds New Saturn Moon That Makes Waves
Waves in the rings
- Thread starter b-body-bob
- Start date
b-body-bob
Well-known member
Da-ho said:
Only Saturn.
Here's the whole story http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html
The mission has produced some truly amazing pictures, so be sure to look around the site some.
I find it interesting that the moon is revolving around the planet at exactly the pace as the rings.
If you look at the waves on the outer ring - they are seen to the right of the moon.
The waves on the inner ring are seen to the left of the moon.
If the moon was moving around the planet at a different rate, then it's affect on the rings would be seen parallel to each other. Like the wake behind a boat in the water. Or more likely, swirls of whatever the rings are made of.
I suppose another possibility is that it revolves on a different axis than the rings and the camera caught it as the moon intersected the rings.
It is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction - at least in that view. I dunno if that means anything.
Alright, there goes my whole day. Brain just shut down.
I can see my lips.
If you look at the waves on the outer ring - they are seen to the right of the moon.
The waves on the inner ring are seen to the left of the moon.
If the moon was moving around the planet at a different rate, then it's affect on the rings would be seen parallel to each other. Like the wake behind a boat in the water. Or more likely, swirls of whatever the rings are made of.
I suppose another possibility is that it revolves on a different axis than the rings and the camera caught it as the moon intersected the rings.
It is rotating in a counter-clockwise direction - at least in that view. I dunno if that means anything.
Alright, there goes my whole day. Brain just shut down.
I can see my lips.
b-body-bob
Well-known member
Are you sure it's not the movement of the moon around the planet through the rings that makes the gap that it is seen through?
[smilie=e:
And check out the full sized pic - it's leaving a track on the opposite side of the gap on the other side of the moon.
[img]http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/114778main_PIA06237-516.jpg[/img]
[smilie=e:
And check out the full sized pic - it's leaving a track on the opposite side of the gap on the other side of the moon.
[img]http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/114778main_PIA06237-516.jpg[/img]
That's what I mean.
If the moon were moving in relation to the rings, then the wave effect would be seen in it's wake.
Like o<<<<<<<
But since it is seen on opposite sides, that has to mean that the moon is moving in pace with the rings and the wave effect is caused by the graviational effect of it's spinning.
Hmmmm... This all assumes that the inner and outer rings are spinning in the same direction. If they're not, then my theory goes right out the window and there's not enough information in that picture to know what's moving in relation to what EXCEPT that the rings move in opposite directions in relation to each other and that the moon spins counterclockwise.
The key is to look at things relatively. One of my favourite times in highschool science. I was no brainer, but I was the first to figure out what the hell the teacher was getting on about when he started yelling at everyone to stop moving! when we were all sitting perfectly still....
If the moon were moving in relation to the rings, then the wave effect would be seen in it's wake.
Like o<<<<<<<
But since it is seen on opposite sides, that has to mean that the moon is moving in pace with the rings and the wave effect is caused by the graviational effect of it's spinning.
Hmmmm... This all assumes that the inner and outer rings are spinning in the same direction. If they're not, then my theory goes right out the window and there's not enough information in that picture to know what's moving in relation to what EXCEPT that the rings move in opposite directions in relation to each other and that the moon spins counterclockwise.
The key is to look at things relatively. One of my favourite times in highschool science. I was no brainer, but I was the first to figure out what the hell the teacher was getting on about when he started yelling at everyone to stop moving! when we were all sitting perfectly still....