Scientists compile Cassini's unique observations of Saturn's rings

Scientists from the Southwest Research Institute have compiled observations from the Cassini mission. The collection will inform future investigations of the particle size distribution and composition of the rings.

"For nearly two decades, NASA's Cassini spacecraft shared the wonders of Saturn and its family of icy moons, but we still don't know the origins of the ring system," said Dr. The rings may have formed from the destruction of a satellite or comet. To support any one origin theory, we need to know the size of particles that make up the rings.

The observations it made in the extreme ultraviolet wavelength were sensitive to some of the smallest particles.

The size of the ring particles was determined by observing them when the instrument was pointed at the sun. Ring particles can be used to determine the size and composition of the ring particles.

The observations gave us insight into the smallest particle sizes with the rings. In order to understand the origin, collisional activity and destruction of the ring particles within the system, we need to detect dust particles at the micron level.

Variations in the optical depth of observation can help determine particle size and composition. The particles in the light's path absorb and scatter the light from the sun. A direct measurement of the ring optical depth is provided by the amount of light blocking by ring particles.

It's important to understand the structure of the rings. The research measured the optical depth as a function of the viewing angle of the ring system. Scientists can see a picture of the rings' structures when light passes through them.

"Ring systems around giant planets provide test beds for investigating fundamental physical properties and processes in our solar system in general." The particles are thought to be caused by objects colliding and forming in a disk. Understanding how planets form could help us understand how ring systems form.

There is a paper in the journal.

More information: S.G. Jarmak et al, Solar occultation observations of Saturn's rings with Cassini UVIS, Icarus (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115237 Journal information: Icarus