Cassini Finds Patterns and Rhythm in Saturn’s Rings

An interesting news from Saturn´s Rings:

Cassini Finds Patterns and Rhythm in Saturn’s Rings

www.universetoday.com...

Cassini has been orbiting around Saturn for almost four years, and amazingly, the spacecraft keeps discovering new and unexpected features about this world and its system of rings and moons. Recently, in two of Saturn’s rings, Cassini found orderly lines of densely grouped, boulder-size icy particles that extend outward across the rings like ripples from a rock dropped in a calm pond. Surprisingly, the distances between these ring particles stay relatively equal even though their velocities may change. This type of pattern is completely new, as normally, the distances between particles change with their velocity.

The pattern was detected when Cassini sent out three signals toward Earth. The signals crossed Saturn's rings, and the frequencies were scattered from the passing ring particles. Once the signals were captured by Earth-based antennas of NASA's Deep Space Network, Cassini scientists saw a regular pattern in the received signal frequencies.

"This particular feature is the smallest and most detailed of anything seen in Saturn's rings so far," said Cassini radio science team member Essam Marouf. "In the chaotic environment of the rings, to find such regularity in the most cramped areas is nothing short of amazing." The regular structure can only be found in locations where particles are densely packed together, such as the B ring and the innermost part of the A ring. The signals were sent to capture a complete view of the rings.

The unexpected pattern within Saturn's rings may give scientists some new ideas of what to expect from other similar planets and solar systems.

Scientists call this pattern of particles “enormously extended natural diffraction grating.” A diffraction grating has parallel lines like a picket fence; when light hits this fence, it separates according to wavelength, from ultraviolet to infrared light.

"The signals showed that the particle groups were arranged in an unexpectedly regular formation that had rhythm within the rings of Saturn,'" said Marouf. "Each particle is in its own orbit, and sometimes they collide and move apart as their velocities change. As a result, you have particles bunched together into dense groups that extend across the ring in harmony with each other."

Boulder size 'particles that move at different speeds but keep the same distance apart?



Now THAT is going to take some explaining

Here is the original NASA press release on this...

www.jpl.nasa.gov...

Very interesting pattern...






[edit on 3-2-2008 by zorgon]

[edit on 13-2-2008 by Jbird]

The outer boulder would be moving faster then the inner boulder, keeping an equal distance from each other throughout. Very interesting find.

Originally posted by TLomon
The outer boulder would be moving faster then the inner boulder, keeping an equal distance from each other throughout. Very interesting find.

Nope! I don't think it's that simple! It says,

Surprisingly, the distances between these ring particles stay relatively equal even though their velocities may change.

What you had implied was motion at a constant velocity of both objects but at different radial distances resulting in the inter se distance being equal. That's fine.

But it says that velocities may change, while the distance between each boulder remains the same! Now that's like a 'circular square' or a 'square circle'!! How the heck can the objects' distance from each other remain constant though velocities change?

Very interesting! It looks like there's really something going on out there! Good find!

Strange indeed. I read this to say, in simple terms, that these objects change speed at times, but maintain a coordinated patter in that if one speeds up, the rest change speed as well.

I cannot see how physics could answer this problem, which smacks of some form of communication between inanimate objects. It is much like they are 'tethered jointly to the planet and to each other.

Total head-scratcher. It would seem to defy some commonly held notions of motion. The regular and repeatable grate pattern says it's though. It's almost like the elements in question in the ring have their own local forces of attraction and repulsion separate but responsive to the larger environment.

I've read more than a bit of Marouf's stuff... most of the detail goes over the top of my head (especially his paper last year on DSP's and the future of space-silicon) but I have real confidence in what he says. Dedicated-lifer.

You folks should take a look at the Dione pic... got them there "funny" craters... it's all natural in my opinion but it is interesting, oh, and at least one very odd lighting effect (Ciclops.org). Cassini just keeps on discovering.

Vic

STS-122 Pre-launch News Conference is on NASA-TV now for those with an interest.

[edit on 5-2-2008 by V Kaminski]

Originally posted by NGC2736
I cannot see how physics could answer this problem, which smacks of some form of communication between inanimate objects. It is much like they are 'tethered jointly to the planet and to each other.

Why not? It seems a lot like a complicated form of orbital resonance with a little bit of tidal locking to me.

At any rate, very interesting find.

reply to post by Beachcoma


Yes, but then the speed change by any one group should be reflected by all objects within the system. Selectively changing the speed of objects seems to have implications that we have not considered.

Originally posted by NGC2736
Selectively changing the speed of objects seems to have implications that we have not considered.

If I'm not mistaken, the velocity of an orbiting body can change if the orbit is not completely circular. It can also be perturbed by the gravitational influences of other orbiting bodies in the system.

Originally posted by Beachcoma

Originally posted by NGC2736
Selectively changing the speed of objects seems to have implications that we have not considered.

If I'm not mistaken, the velocity of an orbiting body can change if the orbit is not completely circular. It can also be perturbed by the gravitational influences of other orbiting bodies in the system.

Well, it's not the question of changing velocities per se. Bracketed with changing velocities of the objects is maintenance of inter se distances at the same time! Now how can that be? Darn! I need to head back to school and re learn my physics, what?

Thank you all for the inputs.

Will try to find more updated info.

Originally posted by NGC2736
I cannot see how physics could answer this problem, which smacks of some form of communication between inanimate objects.

Perhaps "Physics" is the wrong science ... maybe "Mechanical Engineering" is what we want

But I know that no one here would hint at these being some sort of satellites left by the "Ringmakers of Saturn"