|
Collection:
|
|
NASA Cassini-Huygens Collection
Collection
NASA Cassini-Huygens Collection
Collection
|
|
Title:
|
|
Mapping Clumps in Saturn's Rings
Title
Mapping Clumps in Saturn's Rings
Title
|
|
Description:
|
|
Mapping Clumps in Saturn's Rings
description
Mapping Clumps in Saturn's Rings
Description
|
|
Full Description:
|
View Annotated Image This false-color image of Saturn's main rings was made by combining data from multiple star occultations using the Cassini ultraviolet imaging spectrograph. During occultations, scientists observe the brightness of a star as the rings pass in front of the star. This provides a measurement of the amount of ring material between the spacecraft and the star. Cassini has given scientists the most detailed view yet of Saturn's densely packed B ring. Cassini found that this part of the rings is densely packed with clumps, called self-gravity wakes, separated by nearly empty gaps. These clumps in Saturn's B ring are neatly organized and constantly colliding, which surprised scientists. The clumps in Saturn's B ring, 30 to 50 meters (100 to 160 feet) across, are too small to be seen directly. However, scientists can map the distribution, shape and orientation of the clumps. Colors in this image indicate the orientation of clumps, and brightness indicates the density of ring particles. The formation of wakes is strongest in the bluer regions, where ring particles clump together in tilted wakes. Particles in the central yellow regions are too densely packed for any starlight to pass through. The ultraviolet imaging spectrograph measured the flickering of the star Alpha Arae as it passed by the rings Nov. 9 and 10, 2006. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA''s Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter was designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The ultraviolet imaging spectrograph was designed and built at, and the team is based at the University of Colorado, Boulder. For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission visit http://saturn.jpl.n…The ultraviolet imaging spectrograph team home page is at http://lasp.colorad…. *Credit:* NASA/JPL/University of Colorado
Full_Description
View Annotated Image This false-color image of Saturn's main rings was made by combining data from multiple star occultations using the Cassini ultraviolet imaging spectrograph. During occultations, scientists observe the brightness of a star as the rings pass in front of the star. This provides a measurement of the amount of ring material between the spacecraft and the star. Cassini has given scientists the most detailed view yet of Saturn's densely packed B ring. Cassini found that this part of the rings is densely packed with clumps, called self-gravity wakes, separated by nearly empty gaps. These clumps in Saturn's B ring are neatly organized and constantly colliding, which surprised scientists. The clumps in Saturn's B ring, 30 to 50 meters (100 to 160 feet) across, are too small to be seen directly. However, scientists can map the distribution, shape and orientation of the clumps. Colors in this image indicate the orientation of clumps, and brightness indicates the density of ring particles. The formation of wakes is strongest in the bluer regions, where ring particles clump together in tilted wakes. Particles in the central yellow regions are too densely packed for any starlight to pass through. The ultraviolet imaging spectrograph measured the flickering of the star Alpha Arae as it passed by the rings Nov. 9 and 10, 2006. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA''s Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter was designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The ultraviolet imaging spectrograph was designed and built at, and the team is based at the University of Colorado, Boulder. For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission visit http://saturn.jpl.n…The ultraviolet imaging spectrograph team home page is at http://lasp.colorad…. *Credit:* NASA/JPL/University of Colorado Full Description
|
|
Date:
|
|
May 22, 2007
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
gallery
keywords
gallery
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
images
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
Cassini
keywords
Cassini
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
mission
keywords
mission
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
Huygens
keywords
Huygens
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
probe
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
Saturn
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
explore
keywords
explore
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
videos
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
movies
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
Jupiter
keywords
Jupiter
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
flyby
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
spacecraft
keywords
spacecraft
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
assembly
keywords
assembly
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
launch
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
flight
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
operations facilities
keywords
operations facilities
Keywords
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
mpeg
|
|
Keywords:
|
|
Quicktime
keywords
Quicktime
Keywords
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Saturn
facet_what
Saturn
facet_what
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Cassini
facet_what
Cassini
facet_what
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Jupiter
facet_what
Jupiter
facet_what
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Cassini-Huygens
facet_what
Cassini-Huygens
facet_what
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Huygens Probe
facet_what
Huygens Probe
facet_what
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Cassini Orbiter
facet_what
Cassini Orbiter
facet_what
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
rings
facet_what
rings
facet_what
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Saturn's rings
facet_what
Saturn's rings
facet_what
|
|
facet_what:
|
|
Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS)
facet_what
Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS)
facet_what
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Saturn
facet_where
Saturn
facet_where
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Jupiter
facet_where
Jupiter
facet_where
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
facet_where
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
California
facet_where
California
facet_where
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Washington
facet_where
Washington
facet_where
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Colorado
facet_where
Colorado
facet_where
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
|
|
facet_where:
|
|
Washington, D.C.
facet_where
Washington, D.C.
facet_where
|
|
facet_when:
|
|
May 22, 2007
facet_when
May 22, 2007
facet_when
|
|
facet_when_year:
|
|
2007
facet_when_year
2007
facet_when_year
|
|
UID:
|
|
SPD-SATRN-2610
|
|
original url:
|
original_url
original url
|
