Other
Scientific paper
Sep 1969
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1969saosr.304.....c&link_type=abstract
SAO Special Report #304 (1969)
Other
2
Scientific paper
This study tries to establish whether Saturn's rings are undergoing a loss or a gain of material as a result of impacts with interplanetary particles. Cometary meteoroids probably dominate over interstellar dust at Saturn, and meteoroids from comets like P/Comet Halley probably constitute the bulk of the interplanetary dust near Saturn. Most of the spalled fragments from the ring particles travel either to the other node or back to the node of origin and are recovered by the rings. Some fragments are lost into escaping orbits; rather more enter the planet's atmosphere. There is some doubt as to whether the rings are slowly accreting or losing matter, although our results somewhat favour the latter. If net erosion is taking place, its maximum amount in 4 X 109 years is about 3 g cm-2, or a depth of 60 cm for a density of the ring particles near their surfaces of 0.05 g cm-3. Erosion as vaporized ice (steam) is probably quite negligible. The rate of impingement of spalled mass on Saturn is at most similar to that of meteoric mass, about 10 kg sec-1. This is much to small to have any observable effect on the atmosphere.
Cook Allan F.
Franklin Fred A.
No associations
LandOfFree
The Effect of Meteoroidal Bombardment on Saturn's Rings does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The Effect of Meteoroidal Bombardment on Saturn's Rings, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The Effect of Meteoroidal Bombardment on Saturn's Rings will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1426793