Abstract The Voyager observations of electrical discharges in Saturn's rings strongly support earlier speculations on the role played by electrostatics, magnetic fields, and lightning phenomena in the primitive solar system. They also suggest conditions then by direct analogy rather than by extrapolating backwards through time from conditions now. The observed discharges show a pronounced 10h periodicity, which suggests a source in Keplerian orbit at 1.80 ± 0.01 Saturn radii (1 RS = 60,330 km). In that region, the B ring is thicker than optical depth 1.8 for about 5,000 km. At 1.805 ± 0.001 Saturn radii, however, the ring is virtually transparent for a gap of width 200 m. We conclude that a small satellite orbits Saturn at that radius and clears the gap. The gap edges must prevent diffusive filling of the gap by fine material which is especially abundant at this position in the rings and would otherwise destroy the gap in minutes. The discharges represent the satellite's interaction with the outer edge of the gap. Spoke formation may involve the interaction of ring material in the vicinity of the gap.


    Access

    Check access

    Check availability in my library

    Order at Subito €


    Export, share and cite



    Title :

    Electrostatic discharges in Saturn's B-ring


    Contributors:
    Warwick, J.W. (author) / Romig, J.H. (author) / Evans, D.R. (author)

    Published in:

    Publication date :

    1983-01-01


    Size :

    6 pages




    Type of media :

    Article (Journal)


    Type of material :

    Electronic Resource


    Language :

    English



    Electrostatic discharges in Saturn's B-ring

    Warwick, J. W. / Romig, J. H. / Evans, D. R. | NTRS | 1983


    Saturn's E ring

    Hill, T.W. | Elsevier | 1984



    Charged Grains in Saturn's F-Ring: Interaction with Saturn's Magnetic Field

    Matthews, L. S. / Hyde, T. W. / International Council of Scientific Unions | British Library Conference Proceedings | 2004


    Mass of Saturn's A Ring

    Horn, L. J. / Russell, C. T. / Lunar and Planetary Institute et al. | British Library Conference Proceedings | 1993