Weird Light in Saturn's Rings

This is the weirdest thing I've seen since the ring around Iapetus. What could it be?



Full Res: saturn.jpl.nasa.gov...

More Pics: saturn.jpl.nasa.gov...

Is this just a single photo or does the object appear serially in other views? Looks like a star in the background as viewed through the rings.

Originally posted by plumranch
Is this just a single photo or does the object appear serially in other views? Looks like a star in the background as viewed through the rings.

No, check the link. It's moving through the rings in sequential shots.

The Sun?

Or check this out... Warning! Science Content

Originally posted by IAttackPeople
The Sun?

Or check this out... Warning! Science Content

It doesn't look like it could be the sun because of the angle. Just to make sure I understand the "science content," you're saying this:



Is the same as this:



I never heard of the opposition effect. Maybe that's what it is after all. Not nearly as bright though.

Originally posted by yuefo
I never heard of the opposition effect. Maybe that's what it is after all. Not nearly as bright though.

Heck, I dunno. Those OP pics are very striking. I have no idea what the opposition effect is capable of producing in this situation. Did you see the similar pics on the next page of thumbnails? They aren't as stark as the page 3 images.

There are pics of stars through the rings but they do not seem like the same effect...



star

WAIT! Lookie Here!

Originally posted by IAttackPeople

WAIT! Lookie Here!

"Coherent backscatter." Er, I'm getting more of a science lesson today than I expected.

I didn't get this much science in school either. And I sure never had so many fantastic pictures.

Thanks for bringing this up. I love seeing this stuff.

Now if I could hitch a ride out for an up close and personal look.

Originally posted by yuefo

"Coherent backscatter." Er, I'm getting more of a science lesson today than I expected.

You know what? "Coherent backscatter" = LASER!

OMG! The Ring Beings lasered Cassini!

I think its one of its moons.

Probably a lesser known minuscule one (maybe the size of our moon though heh).

Remember there are moons and large clumps of dust in the rings, not just the microscopic dust that the rings mostly consist of.

Does that make any sense?

I don't have a source, but I'm sure someone can find one...

I'll look.


Saturn has 59 moons that have been found ranging from 130K km - 20 mil+.

Would this fit within the range of the rings? Might be. Maybe not.



[edit on 20-6-2007 by biggie smalls]

ummm i think its fake wat kind of ufo would make a brite light like that

looks nore like some one covered a pic of a star and put saterns rings on it

Originally posted by TheBaldEagle
ummm i think its fake wat kind of ufo would make a brite light like that

looks nore like some one covered a pic of a star and put saterns rings on it

Ya it could just be a star that was pictured with the rings.

I didn't see the twinkle till taking a second look.

You're probably right.

Neat Good find though.

come on..we all know what it is..why do we keep trying to run/hide/ignore what is ...'out there'. it is a UBO...unidentified bright object...that would be the ..political correct..thing to call it...to call it a UFO would create panic, wild speculation and conspiracy talk.....and we certainly don't want that to happen

i'm going to crawl back under my amored rock now...good day..

"Coherent Backscatter"?

Is this anything like what happens in music with the phenomenon of harmonics?

I know that when a guitarist plays a certain note, the vibrations of the string can cause another string to vibrate sympathetically causing harmonics...or an entirely separate but mathematically related tone from the original note played.

In the case of the rings, that massive planet is creating frequencies to allow for the creation of the rings in the first place. When some of the frequencies occasionally overlap, is it not possible for the resulting separate but mathematically related frequency to be expressed as light?

Just asking.

Saturn sure is a hotbed for weirdness lately. Freaky storms at both poles, Iapetus, and now shining lights behind the rings. What gives? lol

It could be anything.

My bet is a lightsource shining through eg. sun, another star, the mothership... i mean... just read the first 2 suggestions.

Could be anything, yes. But if you can observe it, you can quantify it, and then you can explain it...perhaps eventually, but you can.

And then there is only one thing it could be. So technically, you're right in saying it could be anything, but speculation is more funner.

Its aliens with full head lights on !
Disguised as sun though.

Originally posted by yuefo

Originally posted by IAttackPeople
....The Sun?....

It doesn't look like it could be the sun because of the angle. ....

What's wrong with the angle that makes you doubt it's the Sun? Saturn's ring's have an axial tilt of 26.7 degrees, and the planet's orbit is tilted at 5.5 degees relative to the Sun. That means there are times when the rings could be tilted as much as 32.2 degrees relative to the Sun's equatorial plane. Since the photos in question are close-ups, it's hard to see exactly how much the rings are tilted, but in my opinion the photos could be consistent with a 32 degree tilt...so that could very possibly be the Sun.

[edit on 21-6-2007 by Soylent Green Is People]