Articles tagged with Saturn
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A new study using Cassini images shows that turbulent jet streams on Saturn are powered by internal heat from the planet. The condensation of water vapor in mid-latitudes creates temperature differences, leading to eddies that accelerate the jets like rotating gears.
Scientists have discovered strange half-mile-sized objects leaving glittering trails behind them as they punch through parts of Saturn's F ring. These 'mini-jets' fill in a missing link in our understanding of the curious behavior of the F ring, showing that smaller snowballs can survive and strike through the ring on their own.
Scientists have discovered molecular oxygen ions in the upper atmosphere of Saturn's moon Dione, which could be a crucial ingredient for life. The detection was made possible by instruments aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft and suggests that icy moons like Europa may produce oxygen through sputtering processes.
Dr. F. Michael Flasar, Dr. Anthony D. Del Genio and Dr. James Slavin recognized for their outstanding contributions to Earth and space sciences. Flasar's work on planetary atmospheres, including Titan's unique atmosphere, was highlighted as fundamental to understanding climate physics.
A team of astrophysicists discovered a ring system in the constellation Centaurus that is similar to Saturn's. The system consists of four thin rings of dust debris, with each ring having a mass similar to Earth's moon, and orbits tens of millions of kilometers from the central star.
Voyager 1 has sailed to the edge of the solar system and is expected to punch its way into interstellar space in the coming months or years. The spacecraft was launched in 1977 and completed the Grand Tour of the Solar System, making numerous groundbreaking discoveries about the outer planets and their moons.
Scientists at Tel Aviv University re-created the atmospheres of Jupiter, Saturn, and Venus to study the presence of lightning sprites. The research aims to understand electrical and chemical processes on other planets, potentially indicating the presence of extraterrestrial life.
A recent study found that a gene influencing empathy and sociability can be detected in strangers, who rated individuals with a particular genetic variation as more caring and trustworthy. The oxytocin receptor gene was linked to prosocial behavior, with those carrying the GG genotype exhibiting higher levels of kindness and trust.
The Saturn and HERMES III accelerators have surpassed significant milestones in testing nuclear defenses against atomic weapons. The machines have achieved over 4,000 shots on the Saturn accelerator and 9,000 shots on the HERMES III accelerator, providing valuable data for countermeasures against X-ray radiation.
A University of Arizona planetary scientist has determined Neptune's rotation with high accuracy by tracking atmospheric features in its atmosphere. The discovery improves upon previous measurements and provides a better understanding of the planet's fundamental properties.
The Cassini mission has found evidence of large-scale saltwater reservoirs beneath Enceladus' icy crust, suggesting a possible subsurface ocean. The data reveal that most of the ejected solids are salt-rich grains, which are thought to originate from liquid saltwater rather than surface ice.
Researchers tracked a massive storm in Saturn's northern hemisphere, which rapidly expanded into a giant thunderstorm. The storm produced dark vortices and disrupted the atmosphere, transporting energy and material over great distances.
Researchers at University College London have discovered powerful electron beams flowing back and forth between Saturn and its moon Enceladus, a finding that suggests a universal process similar to Jupiter's moon Io. This discovery was made using the Cassini spacecraft and its CAPS-ELS instrument.
A cyclone on Saturn has been detected to last more than 5 years, making it the longest-lasting cyclone recorded on a giant planet. The cyclone, similar in size to Europe, was tracked using images from the Cassini probe and found to have a weak circulation with properties similar to its surroundings.
Simulations suggest Saturn's rings and inner moons formed after a massive satellite collided with the planet. The resulting debris formed the icy rings and ice-rich inner moons.
The Cassini mission has discovered an oxygen atmosphere on Saturn's moon Rhea, which is extremely thin and sustained by high-energy particles bombarding its icy surface. The formation of oxygen and carbon dioxide could be a pre-requisite for life, with complex chemistry potentially common throughout the solar system.
Saturn's southern hemisphere emits more energy than its northern one, with variations seen in the planet's seasons and years. The Cassini CIRS instrument reveals Saturn is not losing power evenly, providing a new understanding of the planet's internal heat source.
Researchers propose that Enceladus' libration, a slight wobble as it rotates, could be responsible for generating heat and keeping its ocean liquid. This finding is significant in the search for life, as it suggests that the moon's environment may be stable enough to support development.
A team of researchers has discovered that Saturn's aurora pulses in tandem with its radio emissions, providing a long-suspected link between the two phenomena. The discovery offers new insights into Saturn's irregular heartbeat and has significant implications for understanding the planet's rotation period.
The Cassini spacecraft has provided stunning insights into Saturn's ring system, showing routine collisions and debris trails. The rings are composed mostly of water ice, with a mysterious reddish contaminant that could be rust or small organic molecules.
Climate researchers have found that the Indian Ocean Dipole is occurring more frequently due to global warming, leading to extreme weather patterns. Meanwhile, a study in North America reveals that natural cooling factors contributed to an unusually cold year in 2008, contradicting claims of a prolonged cooling trend.
The Cassini spacecraft confirmed that reddish dust infalling on Saturn's moon Iapetus is responsible for its 'yin-yang' appearance. Water ice migration and evaporation also contribute to the extreme brightness differences between the two hemispheres.
During Saturn's equinox, light hits the ring particles at low angles, giving a three-dimensional view of the rings. The CIRS instrument on board the Cassini spacecraft observed record-low temperatures of 382 degrees below zero Fahrenheit in the A-ring.
The Lennart Nilsson Award recognizes Carolyn Porco and Babak A. Tafreshi for their stunning images of Saturn and the night sky, inspiring new generations of astronomers and photographers. Their work showcases the beauty of the universe, from the rings of Saturn to the stars in remote locations.
New studies reveal dry years getting drier in Pacific Northwest, explore rainfall-humidity relationship, and analyze ancient solar cycles using radioactive tracers. These findings highlight the impact of climate change and solar activity on Earth's water cycle and atmosphere.
A new study led by Dr. Dave Stegman has shed light on the evolution of planets, revealing that Enceladus' tiger stripes are caused by tectonic activity and a subsurface ocean containing ammonia. The research suggests that Enceladus' unique chemical composition and interaction with other moons led to the formation of this dynamic system.
New research suggests Titan, Saturn's largest moon, has a subterranean ocean of hydrocarbons and unusual topography, including mountains with lower elevations than surrounding plains. The findings may help explain the presence of large lakes of hydrocarbons at both poles.
Scientists at Duke University have created intricate nano-structures by manipulating magnetization of a liquid solution, enabling the formation of complex shapes like Saturn and flowers. The resulting structures can be fixed and used as building blocks for various applications.
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the University of Illinois have determined the temperature at which helium becomes insoluble in dense metallic hydrogen. This finding has significant implications for models of the interior structure and evolution of Jovian planets, including Saturn and Jupiter.
Scientists found that vents on Enceladus channel water vapor from a warm, probably liquid source to the surface at supersonic speeds. This supports a theory that tidal heating causes geysers and provides implications for life in the solar system.
Studies reveal Greenland's ice sheet is thinning due to warming temperatures, while Arctic sea ice loss increases phytoplankton growth. Meanwhile, data from Mars Express spacecraft indicates a comet-like ion tail forms when solar wind sweeps ions into the Martian atmosphere.
Researchers at UC Berkeley and University College London discovered that metallic helium is produced under extreme conditions found at the centers of Jupiter and Saturn, mixing with metal hydrogen to form a liquid metal alloy. This finding challenges previous theories about the energy source powering these planets.
Scientists have shed light on Enceladus' space enigma by explaining the dynamics of its erupting plume. The new theory suggests that dust particles and water vapor form below the moon's surface, with temperature and pressure conditions allowing for rapid water vapor eruption and slower dust particle ejection.
An international team of astronomers has discovered two planets resembling smaller versions of Jupiter and Saturn in a solar system nearly 5,000 light years away. The newly-discovered planets appear to be gaseous planets with masses similar to those of the giant planets in our own solar system.
Astronomers have discovered a solar system nearly 5,000 light years away with scaled-down versions of Jupiter and Saturn. The planets are similar in size to our own, suggesting that planetary systems like ours may be more common than previously thought.
A hot spot on Enceladus's south pole generates enough heat to eject ice and vapor plumes, indicating geological activity. The presence of water vapor and lack of sodium suggest a different mechanism may be at play, fueling questions about the moon's habitability.
New research suggests Saturn's rings have been present since the solar system was formed 4.5 billion years ago, with different ring features varying in age and material being continually recycled. The recycling process helps explain why the rings appear brighter than expected, despite ongoing pollution.
A narrow belt of moonlets as large as football stadiums has been discovered in Saturn's outermost ring, likely resulting from a larger moon being shattered by an asteroid or comet. The discovery supports the theory that Saturn's rings were initially created through a collisional cascade.
Researchers mapped Saturn's rings using a 'CAT scan' method, confirming the presence of clumps and empty gaps. The discovery may help explain the origin and age of Saturn's rings.
The Cassini spacecraft has mapped the structure of Saturn's rings, revealing densely packed particle clumps that are constantly forming and colliding. The findings suggest the mass of the rings may be twice or more previous estimates, with implications for understanding the origin and age of Saturn's ring system.
Researchers found that tidal forces caused by Saturn's gravity can control the timing of eruptions from cracks in Enceladus' southern hemisphere. The study suggests that these cracks, known as Tiger Stripes, are warmer than their surroundings and may be the source of eruptions.
A new study suggests that frictional heating is the most likely explanation for the plumes and features observed on Enceladus. The process occurs when tidal forces cause fault lines in the moon's icy shell to rub back and forth, producing enough heat to transform ice into water vapor and ice crystals.
The Cassini spacecraft has imaged the tallest mountains ever seen on Saturn's moon Titan, with peaks reaching nearly a mile high. The mountains are topped with bright, white material that may be methane or other organic 'snow,' suggesting a unique geology and potential for life.
Scientists have observed a continuously changing feature in Saturn's innermost ring, the D ring, which indicates a recent comet or asteroid collision. The findings suggest that Saturn's rings are not eternal but dynamic systems that can change over time.
The Cassini spacecraft has found additional faint ring structures formed by processes acting on and within Saturn's moons and main rings. The newly discovered rings are created by impacts onto larger bodies, releasing material that creates diffuse rings.
Research papers highlight the influence of Himalayan topography on monsoon rainfall and reveal self-gravity wakes in Saturn's A ring. Additionally, studies show complex ion chemistry on Titan's nightside and suggest ammonia ions in Titan's ionosphere.
The new movies released by NASA's Cassini mission provide a realistic experience of the Titan landing. The images taken by Huygens' Descent Imager/Spectral Radiometer (DISR) during its plunge into Titan's atmosphere have been converted into movie format, showcasing the probe's descent and the changes it observed in the environment.
The discovery of a blue ring around Uranus reveals similarities with Saturn's E ring, both associated with small moons. Researchers attribute the blue color to gravitational forces acting on dust particles that allow smaller ones to survive while larger ones are recaptured by the moon.
Astronomers discover that Uranus' blue ring is predominantly made of submicron-sized material, unlike most other rings which appear red. The similarity between the outer rings suggests an in-kind explanation for their blue color.
The Cassini spacecraft has discovered four faint propeller-shaped double streaks in the mid-A Ring of Saturn, suggesting the presence of intermediate-sized moonlets. These findings provide evidence that Pan and Daphnis are part of a larger population of ring moons, shedding light on Saturn's ring formation and planetary evolution.
Scientists have discovered evidence of moonlets in Saturn's rings, bridging the gap between larger moons and smaller ice particles. This finding supports the theory that Saturn's rings were formed when another object fragmented close to the planet, with the discovery providing insight into the origin of planets.
A new study by the University of Colorado at Boulder suggests that Saturn's ring spokes may become visible again by July due to changes in the planet's orbit and tilt. The spokes, which are up to 6,000 miles long, were first spotted 26 years ago but disappeared shortly after the Cassini spacecraft arrived in 2004.
Scientists have found evidence of volcanic activity on Enceladus, a key player in shaping the E ring. The discovery sheds light on the dynamics of ice particles in Saturn's system and challenges existing assumptions about how the moon contributes to the ring's mass distribution.
The Cassini spacecraft detected 'holes' in Saturn's magnetosphere near Enceladus, indicating that the moon's geologically active plumes of water change over days or weeks. This variation affects Saturn's magnetosphere, causing material to be lost from Enceladus.
Scientists discovered a dynamic atmosphere around Enceladus, composed of water particles that make up Saturn's largest planetary ring. The atmosphere was found to change between fly-bys and is closely linked with plume observations at the South Pole.
Scientists have found evidence of geysers on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus that suggest near-surface liquid water reservoirs are erupting to form the geysers. The Cassini images reveal a change in the moon's shape and geologic activity over billions of years, indicating a possible source of heat for the geysers.
Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research discovered 'anti-planetary' electron rays on Saturn that fly away from the planet, similar to those observed on Earth. These findings suggest a fundamental process underlying polar lights, which were previously only seen on our planet.
Scientists simulated the cores of giant planets and exoplanets to understand how they formed and evolved. They found that extreme temperatures and pressures lead to the formation of metallic crystals, affecting a planet's magnetic field and surface activity.
Researchers have detected a massive lightning storm on Saturn, with flash rates exceeding those of Voyager 1 and intensities comparable to Earth's thunderstorms. The storm has been observed since January 23 and has varied in intensity, with some 25 episodes occurring since its initial detection.
The Huygens probe has revealed that Titan's surface is a barren, 'river' landscape where water ice congeals like stone. Methane plays a similar role to water on Earth, existing in solid, liquid, and gas states. The dense atmosphere has conditions similar to those early in our solar system.