Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


Daphnis the Wavemaker
<< Yesterday 20.01.2017 Tomorrow >>
Daphnis the Wavemaker
Credit & Copyright: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
Explanation: Plunging close to the outer edges of Saturn's rings, on January 16 the Cassini spacecraft captured this closest yet view of Daphnis. About 8 kilometers across and orbiting within the bright ring system's Keeler gap, the small moon is making waves. The 42-kilometer wide outer gap is foreshortened in the image by Cassini's viewing angle. Raised by the influenced of the small moon's weak gravity as it crosses the frame from left to right, the waves are formed in the ring material at the edge of the gap. A faint wave-like trace of ring material is just visible trailing close behind Daphnis. Remarkable details on Daphnis can also be seen, including a narrow ridge around its equator, likely an accumulation of particles from the ring.

Participate: Take an Aesthetics & Astronomy Survey

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 < January 2017  >
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su






1
2345678
9101112131415
16171819202122
23242526272829
3031




Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: Saturn's Moon - Saturn rings
Publications with words: Saturn's Moon - Saturn rings
See also:
All publications on this topic >>