Does anyone know of a site or of pictures that can get "up close"?
Everything I see is so "zoomed out".
2006-09-07 13:01:06 · 8 answers · asked by JLLLL 1 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The "rings" of Saturn aren't exactly rings. If you would look them from very close, you would in fact see a pile of ice and rocks with a great distance in between.
2006-09-07 13:05:28 · answer #1 · answered by Technotron 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hi,
The best images of Saturn's rings, to my knowledge, are coming from the Cassini probe now orbiting Saturn. Check out the link below for some dazzling, detailed pictures of Saturn's rings.
I don't think we're going to be able to get *super* close pics, as in, "check out this piece of rock floating in the rings," though. Not for a couple of decades at least.
We can't afford to get Cassini too close to those rings - there is too much debris there and it is highly likely that flying the probe too close would destroy it.
But even now, Cassini is seeing things in those rings that have never been found before.
2006-09-07 21:23:10 · answer #2 · answered by wm_omnibus 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
They are made up of fragments.
The theory is that the rings are made up from a moon that was too close to the massive body of the planet, and was torn apart by its gravity.
There have been close-ups of the rings by probes. Can't remember which one. Do a search on Saturns Rings Pictures on Google.
2006-09-07 20:12:23 · answer #3 · answered by nick s 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The rings of Saturn are actually bazillions of small rocks and dust particles held in their planar state and orbit by Saturn's gravitational force. The rocks and dust appear close together because we are so far from them. They are actually many, many miles apart.
If I remember correctly, the 1972 movie "Silent Running" shows the rings in good representation.
2006-09-07 20:52:19 · answer #4 · answered by christopher s 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out the NASA Cassini web page. Cassini is the spacecraft now in orbit around Saturn which is sending back new pictures every day.
2006-09-07 21:18:50 · answer #5 · answered by campbelp2002 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
bunch of rocks and / or blocks of ice. Some larger chunks of rock in the middle. Some cute looking gravity waves (which indeed you see only from far out).
all in all it seems that this looks a lot like the solar system in its early days.
2006-09-08 03:50:51 · answer #6 · answered by AntoineBachmann 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I dont know Ihave never even been to
Saturn so I wouldnt know LOL
2006-09-07 20:06:24 · answer #7 · answered by anA 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Tiny tiny tiny particles of rocks!
2006-09-07 20:09:16 · answer #8 · answered by keℓsey<3 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋