Research finds rings of Saturn are dying
Researchers found that Saturn's iconic rings are losing ice particles at a maximum rate, draining an Olympic-sized pool in half an hour. The entire ring system is expected to vanish in 300-100 million years.
Saturn
Articles tagged with Saturn
NASA research reveals Saturn is losing its rings at 'worst-case-scenario' rate
Saturn's iconic rings are being pulled into the planet by gravity, draining an Olympic-sized swimming pool in half an hour. The research suggests the ring system will be gone in 300 million years, with some particles also falling onto Saturn's geysers from moon Enceladus.
A new way to create Saturn's radiation belts
A team of scientists has found a new way to explain the formation of Saturn's radiation belts, which challenges current theories on electron acceleration. They suggest that Z-mode waves are responsible for energizing electrons in the belt, rather than radial diffusion.
Boy meets world: Life-long space buff and Western graduate student discovers exoplanet
Chris Fox, a space buff since childhood, and his team discovered exoplanet Kepler 159d by analyzing the orbits of nearby planets. The exoplanet has a mass similar to Saturn's and likely consists of gases with no solid surface.
SourceUniversity of Western Ontario·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateOct 11, 2018
Special issue: Gas giant planets
This special issue of Science presents research on Cassini's final transmissions to Earth, revealing new observations and insights into Saturn's atmosphere and rings. The studies found that water, methane, and organic-rich material fall into the planet's atmosphere, modifying its composition and structure.
Latest insights into Saturn's weird magnetic field only make things weirder
Researchers found a tilt of less than 0.01 degrees in Saturn's magnetic field, contradicting the theory that it requires a significant tilt to form. The team also spotted interesting structures near the planet, including a secondary source of magnetism and electric currents flowing between the rings and the planet.
SwRI scientists study Saturn's rings to discover downpour
SwRI scientists used Cassini's final measurements to detect large influx of materials raining into Saturn's atmosphere, with water and organic compounds falling at rates of up to 10,000 kilograms per second. The discovery has implications for ring evolution and atmospheric chemistry.
In its final days, Cassini bathed in 'ring rain'
Astronomers successfully collected microscopic material streaming from Saturn's rings using Cassini's Cosmic Dust Analyzer and Radio and Plasma Wave Science instruments. The research reveals that the main component of Saturn's rings is water ice, with tiny silicates also present.
Surprising chemical complexity of Saturn's rings changing planet's upper atmosphere
A new study reveals Saturn's innermost D ring is hurling dust grains coated in its chemical cocktail into the planet's upper atmosphere at an extraordinary rate. This infalling material may change the carbon and oxygen content of the atmosphere, prompting questions about the rings' formation and lifespan.
Nano-saturn
Scientists synthesize a nanoscale Saturn system consisting of a spherical C60 fullerene as the planet and a flat macrocycle made of six anthracene units as the ring. The structure is confirmed by spectroscopic and X-ray analyses, enabling a new structural motif for researchers.
Giant storms cause palpitations in Saturn's atmospheric heartbeat
A study led by University of Leicester scientist Dr. Leigh Fletcher found that massive northern storms on Saturn can disrupt its equatorial atmospheric patterns, similar to those seen on Earth. The research reveals a link between distant events in a planet's climate system, known as teleconnection.
Saturn's rings cast shadows, affect the planet's ionosphere
Cassini spacecraft data reveals Saturn's rings casting shadows in ionized particles, affecting the planet's ionosphere. The dynamic ionosphere is structured on small scales and shows surprising variability, with possible explanations including ring rain, solar radiation, or magnetic field interactions.
To keep Saturn's A ring contained, its moons stand united
Astronomers conclude that Saturn's seven moons - Pan, Atlas, Prometheus, Pandora, Epimetheus, Mimas, and Janus - work together to contain the A ring. The moon's gravitational influence slows down the spreading ring's momentum, creating an edge.
Intense storms batter Saturn's largest moon, UCLA scientists report
Researchers found that extreme methane rainstorms occur frequently on Titan, creating massive floods in deserts and shaping the moon's surface. The storms are correlated with the formation of alluvial fans, similar to those on Earth.
Microscopic technique for detecting microbial life in enceladus water plumes
Researchers use digital holographic microscopy to detect microorganisms and evidence of life in Enceladus water plumes. A universal biosignature is also proposed to detect biological systems on ocean worlds like Enceladus.
CU Boulder scientists ready for Cassini mission to Saturn grand finale
CU Boulder scientists, led by Professor Larry Esposito, will continue to study Saturn's rings, moons and atmosphere using the Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) instrument on the Cassini-Huygens mission. The team has made numerous discoveries, including the detection of oxygen atoms in Saturn's system and water plumes from Enceladus.
NASA's Webb Telescope will study our solar system's 'ocean worlds'
The James Webb Space Telescope will study the 'ocean worlds' of Europa and Enceladus, adding to previous observations by Galileo and Cassini orbiters. The telescope's high-resolution imagery and spectroscopic analysis will help unravel the mysteries of these moons' subsurface oceans and potential biosignatures.
Surprise methanol detection points to an evolving story of Enceladus's plumes
Scientists detect methanol around Saturn's moon Enceladus using a ground-based telescope, suggesting complex chemical reactions occur in the plume once it's ejected into space. This finding highlights the need for further direct observations by future spacecraft to understand the chemistry of subsurface oceans.
First global simulation yields new insights into ring system
Researchers simulated the entire ring system of Chariklo, a small body in the Solar System with rings. The simulation found that the inner ring is unstable without help, suggesting smaller particles or an undiscovered shepherd satellite may be responsible.
SourceNational Institutes of Natural Sciences·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateApr 27, 2017
Saturn spacecraft toting CU Boulder instrument starts swan song
Cassini-Huygens mission has fostered dazzling discoveries, including in-depth studies of Saturn's rings, methane lakes on Titan, and hot water plumes from Enceladus. The spacecraft will enter Saturn's atmosphere and vaporize after final ring-dive on September 15.
Saturn's rings viewed in the mid-infrared show bright Cassini Division
Researchers measured Saturn's ring brightness and temperatures using Subaru Telescope images. The Cassini Division and C ring appeared brighter in mid-infrared due to thermal emission from warmer particles. However, seasonal changes in the ring opening angle caused variations in their apparent brightness.
Prediction: More gas-giants will be found orbiting Sun-like stars
Researchers suggest an unseen population of gas giant planets may exist at distances similar to Jupiter and Saturn, resolving a long-standing debate about their formation. The predicted planets could be found using NASA's Wide Field Infrared Survey Telescope.
Saturn's bulging core implies moons younger than thought
Research from NASA's Cassini mission data implies Saturn's moons may have formed from the planet's rings rather than being captured by it, with some moons migrating away at an unexpected rate
The peculiarities of the huge equatorial jet stream in Saturn's atmosphere are revealed
Researchers discovered the presence of a white spot on Saturn's equator moving at speeds of 1,600 km/h. The study found that winds increase dramatically with depth, reaching up to 1,650 km/h at 150 km below the surface.
Mystery solved behind birth of Saturn's rings
A team of researchers presented a new model for the origin of Saturn's rings based on computer simulations. The study found that Kuiper belt objects were destroyed by tidal forces when passing close to giant planets, forming icy ring systems. This process explains the compositional differences between Saturn and Uranus' rings.
SwRI's Spencer selected for AGU's Whipple Award
Dr. John Spencer has received the AGU's Whipple Award for his outstanding contributions to planetary science, including deciphering Enceladus' internal ocean and discovering oxygen on Jupiter's moons.
Chemical trail on Titan may be key to prebiotic conditions
Researchers have discovered a chemical trail on Saturn's moon Titan that could indicate the presence of prebiotic conditions. The trail was found in the form of hydrogen cyanide, an organic chemical that can react with itself or other molecules to form long chains called polyimine.
Computer model explains sustained eruptions on icy moon of Saturn
Scientists have pinpointed a mechanism for cyclical tidal stresses to drive and sustain Enceladus's long-lived eruptions. The Cassini spacecraft has observed geysers erupting continuously along the south pole for decades.
Climate of Jupiter and Saturn may yield clues to Earth's weather
A team of scientists led by UH professor Liming Li analyze Cassini spacecraft data to understand the seasonal changes on Saturn. They also examine the energy budget for Jupiter and Saturn to better comprehend planetary climate evolution.
UM researcher, NASA team discover how water escapes from Saturn
Researchers found that water ions escape from Saturn's magnetosphere at a reconnection point, where magnetic fields disconnect and reconnect. This discovery helps scientists understand the physics of rapid rotators like Jupiter and how they expel materials.
Simulating the jet streams and anticyclones of Jupiter and Saturn
Scientists have successfully simulated 3D models of deep jet streams and storms on Jupiter and Saturn, revealing their dynamics and providing clues to Earth's weather patterns. The study helps clarify the origin and behavior of these features, which remain debated among researchers.
Asteroid ripped apart to form star's glowing ring system
Researchers capture first image of a debris ring orbiting a white dwarf star, revealing a spiral-like structure and 'inside-out' structure. The ring system is formed by the star's gravity tearing apart asteroids, emitting a dark red glow from gas produced by collisions.
SourceUniversity of Warwick·JournalMonthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society·DateNov 11, 2015
Origin of Saturn's F ring and its shepherd satellites revealed
Researchers reveal that Saturn's F ring and its shepherd satellites, Prometheus and Pandora, formed from the collision of small satellites with a dense core. This study sheds light on the formation process of satellite systems in our solar system and beyond.
Queen's researcher finds new model of gas giant planet formation
Dr. Martin Duncan's new model proposes that gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn formed through the accumulation of small 'pebbles', allowing cores to form rapidly enough to capture their atmosphere. The successful model predicts the formation of one to four gas giant planets, consistent with the observed outer solar system configuration.
SwRI scientists think 'planetary pebbles' were the building blocks for the largest planets
Researchers suggest planetary pebbles, icy objects about a foot in diameter, were the building blocks for Jupiter and Saturn. This new model improves solar system formation models, producing the observed structure of the solar system with two gas giants, two ice giants, and a pristine Kuiper belt.
Saturn's rings in a supercomputer
Scientists discovered that the size of particles doesn't matter for ring formation and that the abundance of larger particles drops off due to surface forces. The team's model showed that the size distribution in planetary rings is universal, supporting a hypothesis that it follows the same laws as Saturn's rings.
SourceLomonosov Moscow State University·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2015
Scientists solve planetary ring riddle
A breakthrough study by the University of Leicester team, led by Professor Nikolai Brilliantov, reveals that planetary rings have a universally similar particle distribution. The researchers solved the 'amazing' mathematical inverse cubes law of particle size distribution, suggesting that Saturn's rings are in a steady state that does ...
SourceUniversity of Leicester·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 5, 2015
Sandia's Z machine helps solve Saturn's 2-billion-year age problem
Scientists used Sandia's Z machine to verify the metallic phase of hydrogen, solving a long-standing discrepancy in Saturn's age. The experiment found that dense hydrogen can become atomic, releasing energy that could explain Saturn's temperature.
Small thunderstorms may add up to massive cyclones on Saturn
Researchers at MIT propose that Saturn's polar cyclones are caused by small thunderstorms building up angular momentum, leading to the formation of large and long-lasting vortices. The team developed a model that predicts which planets would form such cyclones based on two parameters: atmospheric energy and storm size.
Lab mimicry opens a window to the deep interiors of stars and planets
Researchers mimicked the conditions of distant planets and stars using a laboratory technique, revealing how noble gases behave under extreme pressures and temperatures. This discovery sheds light on the atmospheric and internal chemistry of celestial objects, including the mystery of Saturn's internal heat emission.
SourceCarnegie Institution for Science·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateJun 15, 2015
A new spin on Saturn's peculiar rotation
A new system devised by Dr. Ravit Helled measures Saturn's rotation period, offering a more accurate determination of the planet's internal structure, weather patterns, and formation process. The method applies to other gas planets in the solar system, including Uranus and Neptune.
CU-Boulder-led study shows Saturn moon's ocean may have hydrothermal activity
A new study by a team of Cassini mission scientists led by the University of Colorado Boulder has found evidence of hydrothermal activity on Enceladus, a Saturn moon with remarkable geologic activity. The tiny grains of rock detected near Saturn imply that seawater infiltrates and reacts with a rocky crust, emerging as a heated, minera...
Organic molecules in Titan's atmosphere are intriguingly skewed
Scientists have found intriguing zones of organic molecules shifted away from Titan's north and south poles, contradicting expectations. The discovery may provide insights into the complex chemistry of Titan's atmosphere and its potential connection to Earth's early atmosphere.
SourceNational Radio Astronomy Observatory·JournalThe Astrophysical Journal Letters·DateOct 22, 2014
NASA-led study sees Titan glowing at dusk and dawn
Researchers found large patches of trace gases shining brightly near Titan's poles, with unexpected east-to-west variations. These findings are consistent with observations made by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, which found cloud caps and high concentrations of gases over the poles.
Wobbling of a Saturn moon hints at what lies beneath
Astronomers using Cassini data infer the presence of a potentially rugby ball-shaped rocky core or sloshing sub-surface ocean in Mimas. The moon's unusual wobble reveals surface displacement of up to 6 kilometers, contradicting predictions of uniform interior structure.
'Smoking gun' evidence for theory that Saturn's collapsing magnetic tail causes auroras
University of Leicester researchers captured stunning images of Saturn's auroras, providing evidence for the theory that Saturn's magnetic tail collapse causes auroral displays. The findings support a similar process on Earth.
AGU journal highlights -- May 6, 2014
Scientists studied the persistence of a hexagon-shaped atmospheric phenomenon on Saturn, which remains constant despite large radiative forcing in its atmosphere. The findings suggest that the hexagon is deeply rooted within Saturn's atmosphere and could reveal the planet's internal rotational period.
Saturn's rings reveal how to make a moon
A recent discovery in Saturn's outer A ring has provided insight into the formation of moons. The 'Peggy' object, a small icy body, may be migrating out of the ring and becoming a new moon.
Saturn's hexagon: An amazing phenomenon
Researchers studied Saturn's northern polar region and confirmed the hexagon's stability and unchanged jet stream. They suggest it's a manifestation of a Rossby wave similar to those on Earth, with implications for understanding Saturn's atmosphere.
Cosmic collision creates mini-planet with rings
Astronomers have observed a miniature planet, Chariklo, with two rings of ice and pebbles located between Saturn and Uranus. The discovery was made using a new camera at the Danish telescope in Chile, which revealed two thin rings separated by 14 km.
Massive storm pulls water and ammonia ices from Saturn's depths
Scientists have observed water ice and ammonia ice in Saturn's atmosphere for the first time. The new findings suggest that clouds of different chemical compositions can coexist, with water ice making up 22% and ammonia ice 55%.
New Cassini data from Titan indicate a rigid, weathered ice shell
Researchers found a negative correlation between gravity and topography signals on Titan, attributed to large roots extending into the ocean beneath the ice shell. The study suggests that Titan's ice shell is rigid and at least 40 kilometers thick.
Revealed -- the mystery of the gigantic storm on Saturn
Researchers have explained the behavior of Saturn's giant storms for the first time, using computer models and high-resolution images from the Cassini space probe. The storms are characterized by intense winds of up to 500 km/h and a turbulent ring with an enormous surface area.
Telling time on Saturn
A University of Iowa undergraduate student has discovered that Saturn's magnetosphere changes with the seasons, helping to clarify the planet's day length. The findings may alter our understanding of the Earth's magnetosphere and Van Allen radiation belts.
Saturn's youthful appearance explained
New research published in Nature Geoscience reveals how Saturn keeps itself looking young and hot due to gas layers preventing heat from escaping. This unique layering effectively insulates the planet, preventing heat radiating out efficiently.
Modeling Jupiter and Saturn's possible origins
Theoretical models demonstrate that gas giant planets can survive periodic outbursts of mass transfer from the gas disk onto the young star. These models show that Jupiter and Saturn could have formed through this process, supporting the presence of 20% of sun-like stars with gas giants.
Titan, Saturn's largest moon, icier than thought, say Stanford scientists
A new analysis of Titan's topography and gravity data reveals the moon's icy outer crust is significantly thicker than previously estimated. This finding has significant implications for understanding Titan's ocean and internal structure.
NASA's Cassini sees abrupt turn in Titan's atmosphere
Data from NASA's Cassini spacecraft show a shift in seasonal sunlight causing a sudden change in atmospheric circulation on Saturn's moon Titan. This unexpected turn reveals the key factor in Titan's atmosphere circulation is the slant of light, which led to sinking air at altitudes previously thought to be upwelling.
SwRI team reports Cassini finds a video gamer's paradise at Saturn
The Cassini mission has discovered a second feature shaped like the video game icon PAC-MAN on Saturn's moon Tethys. This finding confirms that high-energy electrons can dramatically alter icy satellite surfaces, and suggests that such anomalies may be widespread in the Saturn system.
Cassini finds a video gamers' paradise at Saturn
Scientists have spotted a second Pac-Man thermal shape on Tethys, confirming that high-energy electrons can dramatically alter an icy moon's surface. The discovery suggests a more complex and varied process in the Saturn system.