Scientists baffled by changes Cassini shows in Saturn's rings

The Seattle Times ^ | September 6, 2005 | Alicia Chang

[neverdem]

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES — New observations by the international Cassini spacecraft reveal that Saturn's shimmering rings, which have dazzled astronomers since Galileo's time, have dramatically changed over just the past 25 years.

Among the most surprising findings is that parts of Saturn's innermost ring — the D ring — have grown dimmer since the Voyager spacecraft flew by the planet in 1981, and a piece of the D ring has moved 125 miles inward toward Saturn.

While scientists puzzle over what caused the changes, their observations could reveal something about the age and lifetime of the rings.

Cassini-related discoveries were discussed yesterday at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society's division of planetary sciences in Cambridge, England.

"I don't think Saturn's rings will disappear anytime soon, but this tells us how the rings are evolving and how long they might last," deputy project scientist Linda Spilker said from England.

Scientists are interested in Saturn's rings because they are a model of the disk of gas and dust that initially surrounded the sun. Studying them could yield important clues about how the planets formed from that disc 4.5 billion years ago.

The ring observations were made this summer. The $3.3 billion Cassini mission, funded by NASA and the European and Italian space agencies, launched in 1997.

[neverdem]

NASA
This composite of two images, taken by the Cassini spacecraft May 7, 2004, shows a wide view of Saturn and its rings. More recent findings reveal changes in the rings.

[kingu]

Well, I don't care what they say, I'd like to have a vacation home with that view.

[zipper]

Galactic warming-- Bush's fault.

[DWar]

It's obviously caused by global warming and is President Bush's fault.

[HiTech RedNeck]

Could a hunk of something have sailed through the ring?

[konaice]

Well, I don't care what they say, I'd like to have a vacation home with that view.

Then Surf on over to digitalblasphemy.com

[Prime Choice]

I personally would prefer to have a full view of Jupiter. The red storm just captivates my imagination...especially when considering that Jupiter is essentially a miniature star that did not ignite.

[taxesareforever]

"And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, with perplexity; the sea and the waves roaring;" (KJV)

[kingu]

Nahh.. Jupiter has been so overdone. Saturn's a nice quarter of the distance across the solar system - so it is close by but not too close by. Besides, with the inflation in the housing market, with my luck, Jupiter would ignite just from the density of homes built around it.

[neverdem]

Study: Fortified grain lowers birth defects

Luxury nail industry faces health risks

mycobacteria

FReepmail me if you want on or off my health and science ping list. Anyone can post any unrelated link as they see fit.

[Arizona Carolyn]

You beat me to it... I was going to say: Is this Bush's fault, too?

[InShanghai]

Interesting - Galactic warming - I wonder if any thought has been put to this theory: The sun's emissions have been changing over the last 100 years, causing the earth's atmosphere to change, and is also affecting Saturn's rings. I wonder what cycle we are in now...

[Loud Mime]

it isn't warming, it's that damned hurricane

[Dallas59]

Bushes reach is astounding!

[Dallas59]

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Well, we can take care of that:

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Hmmm...you might not be that far off.

[Doctor Stochastic]

Well, doesn't Oleg Cassini change styles every year.

[Junior]

It's that alien spacecraft from Footfall.

[El Gato]

It's that alien spacecraft from Footfall.

Be prepared for an invasion of "baby elephants" coming down on hang gliders and wearing pink elevator shoes. :)