Mystery object in Saturn's ring may be a new baby moon: Peggy

L A Times ^ | April 15, 2014, 6:30 a.m. | By Karen Kaplan

[BenLurkin]

The moons that orbit Saturn may be increasing by one -- an icy, pint-sized object that astronomers have named “Peggy.”

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has spotted evidence that a mysterious object measuring perhaps half a mile across is disturbing the outer edge of Saturn’s large, bright A ring. The object’s gravity seems to have roughed up the ring’s usually smooth profile.

As a result, a stretch of the A ring that measures 750 miles long and 6 miles wide is now about 20% brighter than it would typically appear. The fuzzy blob on the A ring’s edge was imaged by Cassini’s narrow-angle camera exactly one year ago, on April 15, 2013.

[BenLurkin]

Astronomers say a bright blob at the edge of Saturn's rings may be evidence that a new moon is forming. (NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute)

[Jane Long]

Peggy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ku5UeUT7yIQ#t=10

[G Larry]

Guess Saturn isn’t covered by Obamacare’s free contraceptives.....

[momtothree]

... itty bitty baby Peggy ping!

[rjsimmon]

Nah, that is just Speed Racer.

[Talisker]

THAT’S NO MOON.

[Slambat]

All the billions of dollars thrown at NASA and this is
the best image they can come up with. We pay for color,
state of the art high definition digital imagery and we
get 60’s quality Twilight Zone.

Interesting though. Thanks for the post.

[BenLurkin]

[Truth29]

Peggy? I know tech support has been moved off shore, but this is ridiculous.

[a fool in paradise]

Who's the baby daddy?

[colorado tanker]

Dees ees Peggy!

[LostInBayport]

"Yeah, Al named a moon after me once. Nothing you'd want to aim a telescope at."

[TheZMan]

Look. If Pluto can’t be a planet, that 1/2 mile wide rock can’t be a moon.

Denied.

[UCANSEE2]

Here's a closeup.

[Snickering Hound]

[cuban leaf]

Say, that reminds me. Did you know you can use wood glue to clean your vinyl records?

[Slyfox]

Look. If Pluto can’t be a planet, that 1/2 mile wide rock can’t be a moon.

Why did they downgrade Pluto again? And, if it is not a planet then what the heck is it?

[Telepathic Intruder]

Pluto is a dwarf planet. Pluto can’t be a planet because it’s just one of many similar objects that occupy Pluto’s general orbit. This wasn’t known at the time of its discovery, however.

[SunkenCiv]

Saturn's moons run rings arou- uh, never mind. Thanks all.

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[SunkenCiv]

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