100-metre-diameter moonlets in Saturn's A ring from observations of 'propeller' structures

Matthew S. Tiscareno (), Joseph A. Burns, Matthew M. Hedman, Carolyn C. Porco, John W. Weiss, Luke Dones, Derek C. Richardson and Carl D. Murray
Additional contact information
Matthew S. Tiscareno: Cornell University
Joseph A. Burns: Cornell University
Matthew M. Hedman: Cornell University
Carolyn C. Porco: CICLOPS, Space Science Institute
John W. Weiss: CICLOPS, Space Science Institute
Luke Dones: Southwest Research Institute
Derek C. Richardson: University of Maryland
Carl D. Murray: University of London

Nature, 2006, vol. 440, issue 7084, 648-650

Abstract: Propelled into the limelight Saturn's ring system consists in the main of countless icy particles a few centimetres to 10 metres or so in radius. Between these and the kilometre-size moonlets Pan and Daphnis, theorists predict a population of moonlets 40–120 metres in diameter. This is too small for Cassini's cameras to see. But 100-metre-diameter moonlets have now been observed indirectly, through the ‘wake’ they leave: propeller-shaped perturbations in the ring. These features are brighter than the surrounding region of the ring: so far four have been observed but the total moonlet population could run into millions.

Date: 2006
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DOI: 10.1038/nature04581

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