Delving into D-ring Dynamics: Probes of Saturn s Interior and Clues to its Recent History
- Authors
- Type
- Published Article
- Journal
- American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting
- Publication Date
- May 26, 2013
- Volume
- 44
- Source
- SETI Institute
- License
- White
Abstract
(2,250 Maximum Characters): Saturn s D-ring is the innermost component of Saturn s ring system, lying between 5000 and 15,000 km above Saturn s cloud tops. This region exhibits complex optical depth variations on a range of spatial scales, and several of its features either move or evolve over time. For example, a narrow ringlet near the D-ring s inner edge has a finite eccentricity, and its pericenter steadily precesses around the planet. Further from Saturn, there are spiral vertical corrugations that have become more and ...
