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You ever hear a fact that utterly blows your mind? That would be impossible to believe if there weren't photographic evidence?

Saturn's rings can be counted like rings on a treestump. They tell the story of the entire Saturn system's history.

What's more, they aren't rings, they are spirals. The gravitational mechanics of Saturn's rings work similarly to galactic arms, only wound more tightly.

The density waves that are formed by "shepherd moons" aren't one-directional, either. In one of the pics attached, the gravitational wake of the moon Daphnis can be seen throwing up waves perpendicular to the plane of the rings.

See sources for more detailed info
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#astronomy #astrophysics #saturn #cassini

This image shows the different types of rings on saturn. Additional details for this image are found here: https://science.nasa.gov/resource/two-kinds-of-wave/
The bottom third of the image is filled with darkness. The top two thirds show the rings of saturn, forming patterned density waves vertically. In the center of the image there is a gap in the rings, and the moon Daphnis can be seen sweeping out a path. Both in front of and behind the moon, waves of ring dust are being created in a plane perpendicular to the camera and the rest of the ring structures.
A tilted, near-side on view of saturn's rings. Density waves can be seen in the ring spirals, with different densities corresponding to historic gravitational changes in the Saturn system

Rings and Waves - NASA Science

Saturn's A ring is decorated with several kinds of waves. 
science.nasa.gov
#astronomy #astrophysics #saturn #cassini

Do people like threads here? I guess we'll find out!

Between meetings today I thought I'd talk about # # and all the exciting # we can expect from it starting in a few months!

(Yes, I made this travel mug ❤️)

# # # # # #
#science #scicomm #astronomy #astrophysics #jwst #nasa #telescope #MastodonNewbie #exoplanets

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