Posted March 3, 200817 yr Although many people think of Saturn's rings as being made up of "countless tiny ringlets" (a concept that goes back to Laplace), true gaps are few in number. It is more correct to think of the rings as an annular disk with concentric local maxima and minima in density and brightness. On the scale of the clumps within the rings there is a lot of empty space, but in general these empty spaces are discontinuous.
March 3, 200817 yr You crazy. "In the souls of the people the grapes of wrath are filling and growing heavy, growing heavy for the vintage." -- John Steinbeck
March 3, 200817 yr I believe that the rings of Saturn are actually a data storage media for superintelligent beings from [glow=red,2,300]beyond the galaxy![/glow] Like a giant record, you know?
March 3, 200817 yr ^---That's plausible. But do you think they could scratch with the rings too? :angel:
March 3, 200817 yr I say we demote Saturn, like we did with Pluto. Saturn won't be missed. Having 7 planets in our solar system will make us feel more special.
March 3, 200817 yr I always hated saturn when building models of the solar system for school. I wanted the rings to float, but how the hell do you do that? It has to appear to be held up by nothing. String was useless because it won't attach properly to the Styrofoam balls. And using wire? that just looks bad.
March 3, 200817 yr I say we demote Saturn, like we did with Pluto. Saturn won't be missed. Having 7 planets in our solar system will make us feel more special. I second that motion. If they can demote a planet because it's too small, then they can demote a planet that would float in a big swimming pool!
March 3, 200817 yr I always hated saturn when building models of the solar system for school. I wanted the rings to float, but how the hell do you do that? It has to appear to be held up by nothing. String was useless because it won't attach properly to the Styrofoam balls. And using wire? that just looks bad. yeah yeah yeah -- i read your graphic comic book all about that..... :laugh:
March 4, 200817 yr The problem with Saturn...no avalanches... http://www.cnn.com/2008/TECH/space/03/03/mars.avalanche.ap/index.html Photo shows avalanche on Mars * Story Highlights * Robotic spacecraft circling Mars captures image during routine tracking * Photo shows at least four avalanches of fine ice and dust * It is rare to catch a natural event in action on surface of Mars PASADENA, California (AP) -- A robotic spacecraft circling Mars has snapped the first image of a series of active avalanches near the planet's north pole, scientists said Monday. The image, taken last month, reveals at least four avalanches of fine ice and dust breaking off from a steep cliff and settling on the slope below. The cascade kicked up massive debris clouds, with some measuring more than 590 feet across. The landslides were spied by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter during a routine tracking of seasonal changes. The probe arrived at the planet in 2006. It is rare for scientists to catch a natural event in action on the surface of Mars. Most of the landscape that has been recorded so far has not changed much in millions of years. The avalanches occurred near the north pole and broke part of a 2,300-foot cliff. "We were checking for springtime changes in the carbon-dioxide frost covering a dune field and finding the avalanches was completely serendipitous," Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist Candice Hansen said in a statement. Scientists were unsure what set off the avalanches and whether they occur frequently or only during the spring. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. All AboutMars Exploration • NASA
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