June 12 2007 Icy Moons (rev 46) Options

[alan]

Rev 46 description available at CICLOPS

http://ciclops.org/view.php?id=3245

Some highlights:

Cassini will observe Mimas, the innermost of the mid-sized icy satellites of Saturn

June 12, Cassini makes one of its closest passes of the small, inner satellite Atlas, at a distance of only 38,000 km (24,000 mi). With an average diameter of only 31 km (19 mi), Atlas is one of the smallest moons of Saturn. Atlas will only appear to be 120 pixels across (at the equator). However, these images may still provide important clues about the formation of one of the most distinguishing aspects of the tiny satellite: its equatorial bulge. The bulge is thought to have been created by material from Saturn’s A ring being deposited preferentially along the equator of the satellite.

A number of observations are dedicated to observing some of Saturn's small moons, in order to refine scientists' estimates of their orbital paths. These sequences include observations of some of Saturn's outer satellites, such as Paaliaq, Hati, and S/2004 S13

I've seen a few of these small outer moons listed recently on the raw image page. They search tool only shows them from the last few orbits. Is this something new they are doing or have they been previously listed as Sky?

[MarcF]

Amazing !!
The surface is so smooth. Only few craters might be seen near the terminator.
It seems completely covered by "ring snow".
And where is the equatorial ridge ?
Marc.

[ngunn]

And where is the equatorial ridge ?

Presumably around the perimeter of that image.

[pat]

Presumably around the perimeter of that image.

Looking at these images it may be that it isn't an equatorial ridge at all but that Atlas is pear shaped with bulges at the equator at roughly the sub-Saturn point and 180 degrees from the sub-Saturn point (anti-Saturn point?). The geometry in the latest images has us looking almost straight 'down' onto the 'bulge' facing away from Saturn. It reminds me of satellite imagery looking down on a mountain. Possibly the 'bulge' is cone shaped.

So maybe Atlas is roughly spherical with two large cones stuck on pointing towards and away from Saturn.