Orbiting in the plane of Saturn's rings, Dione and the other icy saturnian moons have a perpetual ringside view of the gorgeous gas giant planet. Of course, while passing through the ring plane the Cassini spacecraft also shares their stunning perspective. The rings themselves can be seen slicing across the bottom of this Cassini snapshot. Remarkably thin, the bright rings still cast arcing shadows across the planet's cloud tops. Pale Dione, in the foreground, is about 1,100 kilometers across and orbits over 300,000 kilometers from the visible outer edge of the A ring.
Astronomy Pic
- Thread starter MAllen82
- Start date
Orbiting in the plane of Saturn's rings, Dione and the other icy saturnian moons have a perpetual ringside view of the gorgeous gas giant planet. Of course, while passing through the ring plane the Cassini spacecraft also shares their stunning perspective. The rings themselves can be seen slicing across the bottom of this Cassini snapshot. Remarkably thin, the bright rings still cast arcing shadows across the planet's cloud tops. Pale Dione, in the foreground, is about 1,100 kilometers across and orbits over 300,000 kilometers from the visible outer edge of the A ring.
FreeFaller
USAF LS8
Just off the top of my head but Uranus? No wait...that big bastard still does have a small one.
But then again...all planets used to have rings. Until those rings solidified into a recognizable satellite. Correct?
But then again...all planets used to have rings. Until those rings solidified into a recognizable satellite. Correct?
FreeFaller
USAF LS8
Crap...this is turning out to be harder than imagined. We know that all of the Jovial Planets have rings. Pluto couldnt hold on to spit if it weren't for Charon. The only thing I can remember is Venus. I know there are still some circles that claim that she may still have a satellite. But I don't remember anything about rings. Mars? I would think that Mars would be able to hold on to it. Unless Phobos and Diemos ran into em all. Ugh...I guess I'll keep looking.
JoeyLincolnMK8
Dedicated LVC Member
that is a very cool pic
Iancusp
Well-Known LVC Member
what exactly are the rings ??? are they solid???? lets just say we could travel to one and they had a grivitational pull could we walk on it??
eL eS
Dedicated LVC Member
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
This is a great website. it has great pix and great facts.
This is a great website. it has great pix and great facts.
eL eS
Dedicated LVC Member
MAllen82 said:
you can take solace though in knowing you are not alone out there as I am a fellow space g33k.
