Classification of F Ring Features Observed Using Cassini UVIS

Details Classification of F Ring Features Observed Using Cassini UVIS Classification of F Ring Features Observed Using Cassini UVIS

Sep 2009

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.2206m&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #22.06

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

The Cassini Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) has observed 39 statistically significant F ring features in 103 occultations since July 2004. This work triples the number of features reported by Esposito et al. (2008). As the number of statistically significant features has grown, we are now able to classify them for the purposes of cataloging. We define three categories: moonlet, core, and icicle, which categorize the shapes of features seen to date in the occultation profiles of the F ring. With complete signal attenuation for a radial distance of 600 m, the feature observed in the Alp Leo Rev 9 occultation is the only moonlet observed. A myriad of icicles have been observed, which partially block stellar signal for 30 m to 1 km along the radial expanse of the occultation. The density enhancements responsible for such signal attenuations are likely due to transient clumping of material, evidence that aggregations of material are ubiquitous in the F ring. Finally, the large variety of core region shapes displays how even the general shape of the F ring is ever-changing due to continuous perturbations from internal and external objects. The core region of the F ring usually has a smooth U-shape to it, but particle-size segregation and narrow channeling of material lead to the core region taking the shape of Ws and Vs. These three categories show that F ring behavior is highly variable with time and space and that the locations of certain features correlate to proximity to Prometheus. Our lengthy observing campaign reveals possible states and possible causes of the observed structure.
This research was supported by the Cassini Project.

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