Orbits of shepherd satellites deduced from the structure of the rings of Uranus
Abstract
The sharp edges of the rings of Uranus require the presence of small satellites to halt radial spreading. There are several key locations in the ring system where satellites would be most effective at confining rings. Some of these are close to resonances with the moon Cordelia, and there is indirect evidence for the existence of at least two of these satellites.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- December 1990
- DOI:
- 10.1038/348499a0
- Bibcode:
- 1990Natur.348..499M
- Keywords:
-
- Orbital Resonances (Celestial Mechanics);
- Particle Collisions;
- Poynting-Robertson Effect;
- Uranus Rings;
- Uranus Satellites;
- Orbit Calculation;
- Orbital Elements;
- Satellite Imagery;
- Voyager 2 Spacecraft;
- Astronomy