Skip to main content
Log in

Orbits of shepherd satellites deduced from the structure of the rings of Uranus

  • Article
  • Published:

From Nature

View current issue Submit your manuscript

An Erratum to this article was published on 07 March 1991

Abstract

The sharp edges of the rings of Uranus require the presence of small satellites to halt radial spreading. There are several key locations in the ring system where satellites would be most effective at confining rings. Some of these are close to resonances with the moon Cordelia, and there is indirect evidence for the existence of at least two of these satellites.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. French, R. G. et al. Icarus 73, 349–378 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Elliot, J. L. & Nicholson, P. D. in Planetary Rings (eds Greenberg, R. & Brahic, A.) 25–72 (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  3. Dermott, S. F., in Planetary Rings (eds Greenberg, R. & Brahic, A.) 589–637 (University of Arizona Press, Tucson, 1984).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Goldreich, P. & Tremaine, S. A. Rev. Astr. Astrophys. 20, 249–283 (1982).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Smith, B. A. et al. Science 233, 43–64 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Porco, C. C. & Goldreich, P. Astr. J. 93, 724–729 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Goldreich, P. & Porco, C. C. Astr. J. 93, 730–737 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Thomas, P., Weitz, C. & Veverka, J. Icarus 81, 92–101 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Owen, W. M. & Synnott, S. P. Astr. J. 93, 1268–1271 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Cuzzi, J. & Scargle, J. D. Astr. J. 292, 276–290 (1985).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Showalter, M. IAU Circ. No. 5052 (1990).

  12. Spahn, F. & Sponholz, H. Nature 339, 607–608 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Lane, A. L. et al. Science 233, 65–70 (1986).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Colwell, J. E. et al. Icarus 83, 102–125 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Broadfoot, A. L. et al. Science 233, 74–79 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Esposito, L. W. & Colwell, J. E. Nature 339, 605–607 (1989).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Colwell, J. E. & Esposito, L. W. Icarus 86, 530–560 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wisdom, J. Astr. J. 85, 1122–1133 (1980).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Murray, C. D. & Thompson, R. P. Vistas Astr. 32, 225–234 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Murray, C. D. & Thompson, R. P. in Dynamics of Astrophysical Disks (ed. Sellwood, J.) 17–18 (Cambridge University Press, 1989).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. Murray, C. D. & Thompson, R. P. Bull. Am. astr. Soc. 21, 1015 (1989).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Ockert, M. E., Cuzzi, J. N., Porco, C. C. & Johnson, T. V. J. geophys. Res. 92, 14969–14978 (1987).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Horn, L. J., Yanamandra-Fisher, P. A., Esposito, L. W. & Lane, A. L. Icarus 76, 485–492 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Gresh, D. L. thesis, Stanford University (1990).

  25. Dermott, S. F., Malhotra, R. & Murray, C. D. Icarus 76, 295–334 (1988).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Munk, W. H. & MacDonald, G. J. F. The Rotation of the Earth (Cambridge University Press, 1960).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  27. Tittemore, W. C. & Wisdom, J. Icarus 85, 394–443 (1990).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Murray, C., Thompson, R. Orbits of shepherd satellites deduced from the structure of the rings of Uranus. Nature 348, 499–502 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1038/348499a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/348499a0

  • Springer Nature Limited

This article is cited by

Navigation