HR: 08:00h
AN: P31D-01 INVITED     [Abstracts]
TI: Saturn's Ring Images/Dynamics by Cassini
AU: * Burns, J A
EM: jab16@cornell.edu
AF: Astronomy Dept., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-6801
AU: Tiscareno, M S
EM: matthewt@astro.cornell.edu
AF: Astronomy Dept., Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853-6801
AB: Since its orbit insertion in mid-2004, the Cassini spacecraft has been able to view Saturn's magnificent rings at various phase and elevation angles, with resolutions ranging from ~200 m on orbit insertion, through a km or two during typical closest approaches, up to many tens of km at distant apoapses. Significant changes have occurred in isolated regions of the rings between the Voyager encounters a quarter century ago and the continuing observations over the last eighteen months. This talk will focus on observations and understandings of the past year. As time permits, we will discuss bending and density wave structures (emphasizing the changes in those caused by the switching orbits of Janus and Epimetheus); features that are temporally variable over short times (F ring, Encke ringlets, ring edges) and longer (D and G rings); odd patterns (short streaks, "straw", "knots" and "turbulence"); and interactions with adjacent satellites, especially those embedded in the Encke and Keeler gaps. Since the spacecraft will spend most of Fall 2005 near the ring plane, we anticipate few discoveries during this period; this should allow us time to do a better job at interpreting those data currently in hand. As J. C. Maxwell wrote in 1857, we are "still grinding at Saturn's rings."
DE: 5759 Rings and dust
SC: Planetary Sciences [P]
MN: Fall Meeting 2005