NASA’s Cassini spacecraft can observe About twenty months around Saturn until its collapse in 2017. While not close enough to be studied in detail, the data allows scientists to “determine the rotational period” of some moons, their axis of rotation, and even their shape, said Tilmann Dink of the German Aerospace Center in Berlin, who led the note. . Cassini also found a lot of ice on the surface One of the biggest irregular moonsatmosphere.
Careful observations of Saturn’s minor moons can provide scientists a window into the turbulent times of the early solar system. During that period, collisions became more frequent and planets jockeyed for position, and Jupiter is thought to have migrated from the nearest sun into its current orbit. “This gives you additional information about the formation of the solar system,” said Dr Dink.
However, the irregular moons we’ve seen so far may only be the beginning. “We estimate there could be thousands,” says Dr. Ashton about Saturn and Jupiter. Uranus and Neptune may also have many of these irregular moons, but their great distance from the Sun makes them hard to spot.
Saturn, although smaller than Jupiter, seems to have a larger number of irregular moons. Perhaps three times the size of Jupiter, about two miles in size. Dr Ashton said the reasons were unclear.
2023-05-12 20:12:45
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