Daphnis tagged posts

As this almost surreal observation of Saturn’s tiny moon Daphnis shows, we’re finally getting a really good look at the small-scale processes that are at work in Saturn’s rings Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

The wavemaker moon, Daphnis, is featured in this view, taken as NASA’s Cassini spacecraft made one of its ring-grazing passes over the outer edges of Saturn’s rings on Jan. 16, 2017. This is the closest view of the small moon obtained yet. Daphnis (5 miles) orbits within the 26-mile wide Keeler Gap. Cassini’s viewing angle causes the gap to appear narrower than it actually is, due to foreshortening.

The little moon’s gravity raises waves in the edges of the gap in both the horizontal and vertical directions...