IPB
X   Site Message
(Message will auto close in 2 seconds)

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

Spokes or scattered light ?
Bjorn Jonsson
post Jul 25 2006, 10:05 AM
Post #1


IMG to PNG GOD
****

Group: Moderator
Posts: 2257
Joined: 19-February 04
From: Near fire and ice
Member No.: 38



Spoke-like features are visible in several recent wide angle images of the rings:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=80037
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=80036
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=80034

These are high-phase views so any spokes should be brighter than the rings. And indeed there is a bright, narrow, vertically elongated feature visible in the B ring in several images that *might* be spokes. On the negative side there's this:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=80041
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=80031
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...eiImageID=80032

Nothing obvious here so the spoke-like feature might be due to something else, for example scattered light within the camera - it's suspicious that the camera is pointing in a slightly different direction in these images. Another possibility is that the images were obtained at different times - the spokes vary with time. It will be interesting to see if these features are spokes or not.
Go to the top of the page
 
+Quote Post

Posts in this topic


Reply to this topicStart new topic

 



RSS Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 15th December 2024 - 09:39 PM
RULES AND GUIDELINES
Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting.

IMAGE COPYRIGHT
Images posted on UnmannedSpaceflight.com may be copyrighted. Do not reproduce without permission. Read here for further information on space images and copyright.

OPINIONS AND MODERATION
Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators.
SUPPORT THE FORUM
Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member.