Rev 127 - Feb 22-Mar 12, 2010 - Rhea R2 and Helene, Also distant Iapetus Options

[elakdawalla]

Holy moly are these back-to-back flybys of Rhea and Helene going to ROCK!!!! Jason's Rev 127 looking ahead article has all the details. Wispy terrain high-res mosaic -- close look at putative impact sites of former ring particles -- MIMI attempt to confirm presence of Rhea ring -- Imaging of pretty much all of Helene using Saturnshine to illuminate sub-Saturn hemisphere on approach, sunshine on anti-Saturn hemisphere on departure -- departure shots will be against Saturn as a backdrop -- C/A shots will use skeet shoot technique derived for Encelauds -- etc. etc. --

I can't wait!! Thanks Jason for the preview!!!

[Elias]

I am not sure if MIMI data can confirm the disk/rings scenario. What MIMI data may tell us is whether the structures that will be observed during the flyby in electrons and ions, under a much different geometry compared to the two previous flybys, are consistent with that exciting scenario (or not). Consistent observations under much different geometries, may strengthen the initial interpretation, but definitely not prove it.

I think proof can only come from imaging observations (or maybe other, more direct methods than those based primarily on charged particle data).

[DrShank]

I am not sure if MIMI data can confirm the disk/rings scenario. What MIMI data may tell us is whether the structures that will be observed during the flyby in electrons and ions, under a much different geometry compared to the two previous flybys, are consistent with that exciting scenario (or not). Consistent observations under much different geometries, may strengthen the initial interpretation, but definitely not prove it.

I think proof can only come from imaging observations (or maybe other, more direct methods than those based primarily on charged particle data).

if it cant be seen from orbit, the best case for corraborative proof then comes from the equatorial features i and others have shown above and elsewhere that are very difficult to attribute to anything but debris orbiting Rhea in a very thin and low density disk. but the motivation for the flyby is these "rings" so here's hoping they find something

[Elias]

if it cant be seen from orbit, the best case for corraborative proof then comes from the equatorial features i and others have shown above and elsewhere that are very difficult to attribute to anything but debris orbiting Rhea in a very thin and low density disk. but the motivation for the flyby is these "rings" so here's hoping they find something

But the equatorial features may simply indicate that there was a ring sometime in the past, and its collapse has formed them. Is that right? Its not necessary that the ring system/disk still exists (although in the context of the MIMI observations, one may assume that).