The 'spokes' in a ring of Saturn
Abstract
The nature and the origin of the spokelike features discovered in the B ring of Saturn by Pioneer-11, Voyager-1, and Voyager-2 are examined. It is shown that the 'spokes' in the Saturn ring are visible due to the fact that asymmetrical particles of the spokes are oriented differently from the particle population in the ring. The paper discusses the hypothesis of levitating particles and the wave theory of spoke formation which help explain the phenomenon.
- Publication:
-
Priroda
- Pub Date:
- April 1991
- Bibcode:
- 1991Prir........19B
- Keywords:
-
- Asymmetry;
- Levitation;
- Particle Size Distribution;
- Saturn Rings;
- Pioneer 11 Space Probe;
- Voyager 1 Spacecraft;
- Voyager 2 Spacecraft;
- Lunar and Planetary Exploration