Saturn's rings

Comments and questions about the APOD on the main view screen.
mookie
Asternaut
Posts: 1
Joined: Thu Mar 03, 2005 9:02 pm

Saturn's rings

Post by mookie » Thu Mar 03, 2005 9:06 pm

Have you noticed that the rings of Saturn do not extend beyond Saturn's shadow? Could the shadow allow them to cool down enough to not subliminate, while debris far enough out in orbit to avoid the shadow over time, become relatively warmer, and dissipate? Or something like that? Would solar wind pressure be enough to perturb ring particle orbits? Hmm.

Bill Blalock

makc
Commodore
Posts: 2019
Joined: Tue Oct 12, 2004 5:25 pm

Re: Saturn's rings

Post by makc » Fri Mar 04, 2005 7:13 am

mookie wrote:Have you noticed that the rings of Saturn do not extend beyond Saturn's shadow?
they are all around the planet. it is impossible for rings to remain in shadow of inner planet body.