Revised Orbits of Saturn's Small Inner Satellites

Jacobson, R. A.; Spitale, J. N.; Porco, C. C.; Beurle, K.; Cooper, Nicholas J.; Evans, Michael; Murray, C. D.

doi:10.1088/0004-6256/135/1/261

Cited by 75 publications

(78 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Moreover, a small but perhaps significant eccentricity of Pan of 1.4 · 10 −5 was determined (Jacobson et al (2008)) which was earlier suggested by models of the central Encke gap ringlet (Spahn et al (1992b)). This motivated a further development of the analytical models of Showalter et al (1986) and Stewart (1991) accounting for particles and moonlets on eccentric orbits which is presented in this paper.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 54%

“…Most interesting would probably be the inclusion of a moonlet inclination. Recent observations of the Keeler gap edge revealed that the inclination of Daphnis (Jacobson et al (2008)) has significant influence on the shape of the perturbed edges (Weiss et al (2009)). Also the inclusion of particle interactions (collisions or self gravity) would be of interest.…”

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Moonlet induced wakes in planetary rings: Analytical model including eccentric orbits of moon and ring particles

Seiß

Spahn

Schmidt

2010

Icarus

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Saturn's rings host two known moons, Pan and Daphnis, which are massive enough to clear circumferential gaps in the ring around their orbits. Both moons create wake patterns at the gap edges by gravitational deflection of the ring material (Cuzzi and Scargle (1985), Showalter et al. (1986)). New Cassini observations revealed that these wavy edges deviate from the sinusoidal waveform, which one would expect from a theory that assumes a circular orbit of the perturbing moon and neglects particle interactions. (2005)), which might be attributed to the neglect of particle interactions and vertical motion in our model.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 54%

Section: Summary and Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Moonlet induced wakes in planetary rings: Analytical model including eccentric orbits of moon and ring particles

Seiß

Spahn

Schmidt

2010

Icarus

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“…Outer vertical resonances (OVRs) do not appear in Saturn's rings, as Pan is the only wavedriving moon with ring material exterior to it, and Pan has no measurable orbital inclination (Jacobson et al, 2008). Therefore, we will set aside OVRs for the present time.…”

Section: Vertical Resonancesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mapping spiral waves and other radial features in Saturn’s rings

Tiscareno

Harris

2018

Icarus

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We have analyzed the highest-quality images to be obtained by Cassini of Saturn's main rings after the Saturn Orbit Insertion (SOI) and before the Ring Grazing Orbits (RGO) and Grand Finale (GF). These images are comparable to those of SOI in fidelity, though not in nominal resolution, due to their high signal-to-noise. We have systematically searched for radial structure in these images by reducing them to a single dimension (distance from Saturn's center) and using the continuous wavelet transform technique. We discuss the resonant theory of spiral waves and discuss the proper method for deriving the local surface density from the wavelet signature of a spiral wave. We present 1) individual features of interest found in our data, including several classes of waves that have not previously been reported; 2) a radial profile of surface density in Saturn's rings, which is more definitive for the A ring than any previously presented and which corrects some errors in previous profiles; and 3) an atlas of resonant features that indicates whether each feature is or is not expressed in the rings and that is organized graphically by resonance strength.

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“…Thanks to the Cassini mission, the masses of the satellites of Saturn are now well known (Jacobson et al 2006(Jacobson et al , 2008Weiss et al 2009). However, the viscosity of the rings of Saturn is a parameter that remains poorly understood.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

What Confines the Rings of Saturn?

Tajeddine

Nicholson

Longaretti

et al. 2017

ApJS

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The viscous spreading of planetary rings is believed to be counteracted by satellite torques, either through an individual resonance or through overlapping resonances. For the A ring of Saturn, it has been commonly believed that the satellite Janus alone can prevent the ring from spreading via its 7:6 Lindblad resonance. We discuss this common misconception and show that, in reality, the A ring is confined by the contributions from the group of satellites Pan, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Janus, Epimetheus, and Mimas, whose cumulative torques from various resonances gradually decrease the angular momentum flux transported outward through the ring via density and bending waves. We further argue that this decrease in angular momentum flux occurs through 'flux reversal'. Furthermore, we use the magnitude of the satellites' resonance torques to estimate the effective viscosity profile across the A ring, showing that it decreases with radius from ~50 cm 2 s -1 to less than ~10 cm 2 s -1 . The gradual estimated decrease of the angular momentum flux and effective viscosity are roughly consistent with results obtained by balancing the shepherding torques from Pan and Daphnis with the viscous torque at the edges of the Encke and Keeler gaps, as well as the edge of the A ring.On the other hand, the Mimas 2:1 Lindblad resonance alone seems to be capable of confining the edge of the B ring, and contrary to the situation in the A ring, we show that the effective viscosity across the B ring is relatively constant at ~24-30 cm 2 s -1 .

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Revised Orbits of Saturn's Small Inner Satellites

Cited by 75 publications

References 8 publications

Moonlet induced wakes in planetary rings: Analytical model including eccentric orbits of moon and ring particles

Moonlet induced wakes in planetary rings: Analytical model including eccentric orbits of moon and ring particles

Mapping spiral waves and other radial features in Saturn’s rings

What Confines the Rings of Saturn?

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