Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
May 2008
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2008dda....39.1803s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DDA meeting #39, #18.03
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The outer edges of Saturn's A and B rings have long been known to possess non-axisymmetric shapes as a result of their proximity to inner Lindblad resonances with the Janus/Epimetheus system, and with Mimas, respectively (Porco et al. 1984). Using a large data set consisting of Cassini ISS imaging and UVIS occultation data, we re-examine the kinematics of these edges with much finer temporal and azimuthal resolution than previously possible. The A-ring outer edge shows the seven-lobed shape resulting from the resonance with Janus and Epimetheus, except at times within a few months of their orbital swap. The best-fitting 7-lobed mode precesses at a speed close to the raw mean of the satellites' orbital speeds, rather than the mass-weighted mean. The outer edge of the B ring displays the expected 2-lobed pattern forced by the resonance with Mimas, but unexplained additional large-amplitude, time-dependent components are present as well. Results of this kinematic modeling are used as inputs to a dynamical simulation to infer physical properties of the rings (Hahn et al., this conference).
Colwell Joshua E.
Hahn Joseph M.
Porco Carolyn C.
Spitale Joseph N.
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