From the November 25, 2005, issue of Science:
Cassini Discovers a Kinematic Spiral Ring Around Saturn
S. Charnoz, et al.
Science 310, 1300-1304 (2005).
Abstract
Supporting Online Material
See also the accompanying Perspectives piece by Mark Showalter:
Saturn's Strangest Ring Becomes Curiouser and Curiouser
Mark R. Showalter
Science 310, 1287-1288 (2005).
Summary
Full Version: Science (november 25, 2005)
Unmanned Spaceflight.com > Outer Solar System > Saturn > Cassini Huygens > Cassini general discussion and science results
Many more details of this stunning finding are available at the CICLOPS Website
View an informative slide presentation under the headline:
"Cassini Discovers the F Ring Is Embraced by a Spiral"
24 November 2005
http://ciclops.org/view_event.php?id=43
View an informative slide presentation under the headline:
"Cassini Discovers the F Ring Is Embraced by a Spiral"
24 November 2005
http://ciclops.org/view_event.php?id=43
Actually, it seems as though -- for once -- we have a ring phenomenon so simple in nature that even we unscientific dummies can perfectly understand what's going on. (I was intrigued to see, though, that Prometheus will plow through the F Ring in 2009. That should put on quite a display. We are only now coming to grasp just how changable at least the small-scale features of the rings are over time, as Larry Esposito's vision comes true of small "moonlets" in different parts of the rings slowly hauling in other material despite the Roche Limit, and then periodically getting splashed all over the place again by meteoroid impacts.)
QUOTE (BruceMoomaw @ Nov 27 2005, 09:16 PM)
Actually, it seems as though -- for once -- we have a ring phenomenon so simple in nature that even we unscientific dummies can perfectly understand what's going on. (I was intrigued to see, though, that Prometheus will plow through the F Ring in 2009. That should put on quite a display. We are only now coming to grasp just how changable at least the small-scale features of the rings are over time, as Larry Esposito's vision comes true of small "moonlets" in different parts of the rings slowly hauling in other material despite the Roche Limit, and then periodically getting splashed all over the place again by meteoroid impacts.)
Anyone who has read Niven and Pournelle's Footfall knows the REAL reason the F ring is twisted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footfall
QUOTE (ljk4-1 @ Nov 28 2005, 11:30 AM)
Anyone who has read Niven and Pournelle's Footfall knows the REAL reason the F ring is twisted.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footfall
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Footfall
Yes, it amazing what the fusion drive flame from a ship can do to a ring system! Of course, the Fithp have been waiting out there at Saturn since 1980 so it's about time they headed this way...
More on the F-ring spiral today from space.com
28 Nov 2005
"Saturn Surprise: One Ring is Actually a Spiral"
http://space.com/scienceastronomy/051128_mystery_monday.html
28 Nov 2005
"Saturn Surprise: One Ring is Actually a Spiral"
http://space.com/scienceastronomy/051128_mystery_monday.html
QUOTE (mars loon @ Nov 27 2005, 05:42 PM)
Many more details of this stunning finding are available at the CICLOPS Website
View an informative slide presentation under the headline:
"Cassini Discovers the F Ring Is Embraced by a Spiral"
24 November 2005
http://ciclops.org/view_event.php?id=43
View an informative slide presentation under the headline:
"Cassini Discovers the F Ring Is Embraced by a Spiral"
24 November 2005
http://ciclops.org/view_event.php?id=43
Thanks for the link, the "movie" is nice and very clear...
So, for 2009 we have a "Prometheus promise" !
This is another very good reason for a Cassini mission extension! 
QUOTE (BruceMoomaw @ Nov 27 2005, 07:16 PM)
Actually, it seems as though -- for once -- we have a ring phenomenon so simple in nature that even we unscientific dummies can perfectly understand what's going on. (I was intrigued to see, though, that Prometheus will plow through the F Ring in 2009. That should put on quite a display. We are only now coming to grasp just how changable at least the small-scale features of the rings are over time, as Larry Esposito's vision comes true of small "moonlets" in different parts of the rings slowly hauling in other material despite the Roche Limit, and then periodically getting splashed all over the place again by meteoroid impacts.)
I don't think it is quite that simple, at least if I understand what appears to be happening - why on each revolution do the rings get smaller? If this is what is happening, why haven't all the rings collapsed, and a long time ago? The moonlets should introduce a periodicity, not a progressive march inward. Where is the braking force? Are there some orbital distances that are more stable than others? Are the rings truly an LP record, or is there a Saturn-iancarnation of Bode's Law??? Stay tuned
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