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Perturbations to Saturn's F-ring strands at their closest approach to Prometheus

January 1, 2000

The strange morphology of the F ring of Saturn is thought to be caused by the perturbing effects of two close satellites, Prometheus and Pandora. The F ring and the satellites also experience periodic close encounters as a result of differential precession arising from Saturn's oblateness. Using the orbits of the F-ring strands derived by Murray et al. (1997, Icarus 129, 304-316) the behaviour of the ring particles at their closest approach to Prometheus is analysed using numerical simulations. The results show that a gap and a wave are formed in the ring at each encounter with the satellite. However, the gap is expected to have a short lifetime due to keplerian shear.

Publication Year 2000
Title Perturbations to Saturn's F-ring strands at their closest approach to Prometheus
DOI 10.1016/S0032-0633(00)00009-X
Authors Winter S.M. Giuliatti, C.D. Murray, M. Gordon
Publication Type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Series Title Planetary and Space Science
Index ID 70022477
Record Source USGS Publications Warehouse
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