Abstract
The larger of the two satellites which bound the F-ring of Saturn could have only one first-order resonance within the ring. If such a resonance exists, then a wave pattern of equally spaced loops which co-rotate with the satellite will be excited. This pattern could account for the braided appearance of the ring.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Goldreich, P. & Tremaine, S. Nature 277, 97–99 (1979).
Voyager Bull., Mission Status Rep. No. 56 (31 October 1980).
Smith, B. A. et al. Science (in the press).
Lin, D. N. C. & Papaloizou, J. Mon. Not. R. astr. Soc. 186, 799–812 (1979).
Julian, W. H. & Toomre, A. Astrophys. J. 146, 810–830 (1966).
Greenberg, R. Astr. J. 78, 338–346 (1973).
Dermott, S. F., Farouki, R. & Murray, C. D. (in preparation).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Dermott, S. The ‘braided’ F-ring of Saturn. Nature 290, 454–457 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1038/290454a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/290454a0
- Springer Nature Limited
This article is cited by
-
Fingerprints in Saturn's F ring
Nature Physics (2005)
-
Periodic features in Saturn's F ring: evidence for nearby moonlets
Nature (1990)
-
Detecting the invisible
Nature (1990)
-
Saturn's ringlets
The Moon and the Planets (1982)
-
The isolated non-circular ringlets of Saturn
The Moon and the Planets (1982)