Prometheus Perturbs Saturn's F Ring

in
Department: 
Saturn
Teaser: 

"Prometheus (148 kilometers, 92 miles across) periodically creates streamer-channels in the F ring, and the moon's handiwork can be seen as the dark channels."

Source: 

Universe Today Download time: Jul 26 2010 10:46 AM ET

I've frequently said the Cassini spacecraft is an artist, so when Carolyn Porco, the mission's imaging team lead, mentioned on Twitter that Saturn's moon Prometheus is akin to Michelangelo, I had to take a look. Wow, this gorgeous image is suitable for framing! Visible in the perturbed, thin F ring, is the potato-shaped Prometheus, and having performed the perturbing, it continues in its orbit. Click the image for the super-huge version.

Prometheus (148 kilometers, 92 miles across) periodically creates streamer-channels in the F ring, and the moon's handiwork can be seen as the dark channels. Here's a movie made from Cassini images showing this process:…

See Universe Today for links to further info.

Also see the Dome News.