OCCULTATION OBSERVATIONS OF SATURN'S B RING AND CASSINI DIVISION
Open accessAbstract
The outer edge of Saturn's B ring is strongly affected by the nearby 2:1 inner Lindblad resonance of Mimas and is distorted approximately into a centered elliptical shape, which at the time of the Voyager 1 and 2 encounters was oriented with its periapse toward Mimas. Subsequent observations have shown that the actual situation is considerably more complex. We present a complete set of historical occultation measurements of the B-ring edge, including the 1980 Voyager 1 and 1981 Voyager 2 radio and stellar occultations, the 1989 occultation of 28 Sgr, two independently analyzed occultations observed with the Hubble Space Telescope in 1991 and 1995, and a series of ring profiles from 12 diametric (ansa-to-ansa) occultations observed in 2005, using the Cassini Radio Science Subsystem (RSS). After making an approximate correction for systematic errors in the reconstructed spacecraft trajectories, we obtain orbit fits to features in the rings with rms residuals well under 1 km, in most cases. Fits to the B-ring edge in the RSS data reveal a systematic variation in the maximum optical depth at the very edge of the ring as a function of its orbital radius. We compare the B-ring measurements to an m = 2 distortion aligned with Mimas, and show that there have been substantial phase shifts over the past 25 years. Finally, we present freely precessing equatorial elliptical models for 16 features in the Cassini Division. The inner edges of the gaps are generally eccentric, whereas the outer edges are nearly circular, with ae < 0.5 km.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
The moon Mimas plays a role in causing some of the structure in the Cassini Division and apparent gap.
“The moon does indeed play a role in causing some of the structure in the Cassini Division and apparent gap.”
From Mean motion resonances with nearby moons: an unlikely origin for the gaps observed in the ring around the exoplanet J1407b (2019) · cites this paper as French et al 2010
The Introduction (page unavailable) says the B-ring edge, which borders the Cassini Division, lies near Mimas’s 2:1 resonance and describes evidence for a resonant interaction. But Section 6 (page unavailable) attributes the pattern of gaps within the Division to forcing by the B ring; it does not establish that Mimas causes that internal structure or the apparent gap. (LLM, conf=0.78)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredMuch of the finer scale structure in the Cassini Division is still not understood and has no apparent association with perturbing satellites.
“However, much of the finer scale structure is still not understood and has no apparent association with perturbing satellites (French et al 2010; Hedman et al 2010; French et al 2016).”
From Mean motion resonances with nearby moons: an unlikely origin for the gaps observed in the ring around the exoplanet J1407b (2019) · cites this paper as French et al 2010
The discussion of fine-scale structure (page not supplied) reports that much of the inner Cassini Division lacks the wake-like features expected from nearby moonlets. Section 6 also describes unresolved dynamical influences, but it identifies a possible perturbation from a Prometheus resonance and reports a proposed B-ring explanation for the gap pattern. Thus the source supports the claim’s general thrust, not an unqualified lack of satellite associations or understanding. (LLM, conf=0.82)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
Ancillary data services of NASA's Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility
Acton, C. H. (1996) · Planetary and Space Science · doi:10.1016/0032-0633(95)00107-7 · Cited by 1,138 · see citing works
A New Look at the Saturn System: The Voyager 2 Images
Smith, B. A., Soderblom, L., Batson, R., Bridges, P., Inge, J., Masursky, H., Shoemaker, E., Beebe, R., Boyce, J., Briggs, G., et al. (1982) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.215.4532.504 · Cited by 848 · see citing works
Extreme Ultraviolet Observations from Voyager 1 Encounter with Saturn
Broadfoot, A. L., Sandel, B. R., Shemansky, D. E., Holberg, J. B., Smith, G. R., Strobel, D. F., McConnell, J. C., Kumar, S., Hunten, D. M., Atreya, S. K., et al. (1981) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.212.4491.206 · Cited by 451 · see citing works
Photopolarimetry from Voyager 2; Preliminary Results on Saturn, Titan, and the Rings
Lane, A. L., Hord, C. W., West, R. A., Esposito, L. W., Coffeen, D. L., Sato, M., Simmons, K. E., Pomphrey, R. B., & Morris, R. B. (1982) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.215.4532.537 · Cited by 218 · see citing works
Extreme Ultraviolet Observations from the Voyager 2 Encounter with Saturn
Sandel, B. R., Shemansky, D. E., Broadfoot, A. L., Holberg, J. B., Smith, G. R., McConnell, J. C., Strobel, D. F., Atreya, S. K., DONAHUE, T. M., Moos, H. W., et al. (1982) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.215.4532.548 · Cited by 190 · see citing works
The structure of Saturn's rings: Implications from the Voyager stellar occultation
Esposito, L. W., O'Callaghan, M., & West, R. A. (1983) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(83)90165-3 · Cited by 119 · see citing works
Profiling Saturn's rings by radio occultation
Marouf, E. A., Tyler, G. L., & Rosen, P. A. (1986) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(86)90078-3 · Cited by 113 · see citing works
Self-citationSharp edges of planetary rings
Borderies, N. J., Goldreich, P., & Tremaine, S. D. (1982) · Nature · doi:10.1038/299209a0 · Cited by 106 · see citing works
Kliore, A., Anderson, J. D., Armstrong, J. W., Asmar, S., Hamilton, C., Rappaport, N., Wahlquist, H., Ambrosini, R., Flasar, F., French, R. G., et al. (2004) · Space Science Reviews · doi:10.1007/s11214-004-1436-y · Cited by 100 · see citing works
Self-citationGeometry of the Saturn System from the 3 July 1989 Occultation of 28 Sgr and Voyager Observations
French, R. G., Nicholson, P. D., Cooke, M. L., Elliot, J. L., Matthews, K., Perković, O., Tollestrup, E. V., Harvey, P. M., Chanover, N. J., Clark, M. A., et al. (1993) · Icarus · doi:10.1006/icar.1993.1066 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Self-citationTyler, G. L., Marouf, E. A., Simpson, R. A., Zebker, H. A., & Eshleman, V. R. (1983) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(83)90191-4 · Cited by 90 · see citing works
Self-citationIdentification of resonance features within the rings of Saturn
Holberg, J. B., Forrester, W. T., & Lissauer, J. J. (1982) · Nature · doi:10.1038/297115a0 · Cited by 88 · see citing works
Spitale, J. N., Jacobson, R. A., Porco, C. C., & Owen, W. M. (2006) · The Astronomical Journal · doi:10.1086/505206 · Cited by 87 · see citing works
Saturn's F Ring: Kinematics and Particle Sizes from Stellar Occultation Studies
Bosh, A., Olkin, C., French, R., & Nicholson, P. (2002) · Icarus · doi:10.1006/icar.2002.6791 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Saturn's nonaxisymmetric ring edges at 1.95 Rs and 2.27 Rs
Porco, C. C., Danielson, G. E., Goldreich, P., Holberg, J. B., & Lane, A. L. (1984) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(84)90135-0 · Cited by 53 · see citing works
An absolute radius scale for Saturn's rings
Nicholson, P. D., Cooke, M. L., & Pelton, E. (1990) · The Astronomical Journal · doi:10.1086/115601 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Structure of the Uranian rings. I - Square-well model and particle-size constraints
Elliot, J. L., French, R. G., Meech, K. J., & Elias, J. H. (1984) · The Astronomical Journal · doi:10.1086/113662 · Cited by 48 · see citing works
Self-citationElliot, J. L., Bosh, A. S., Cooke, M. L., Bless, R. C., Nelson, M. J., Percival, J. W., Taylor, M. J., Dolan, J. F., Robinson, E. L., & van Citters, G. W. (1993) · The Astronomical Journal · doi:10.1086/116824 · Cited by 36 · see citing works
THE ARCHITECTURE OF THE CASSINI DIVISION
Hedman, M. M., Nicholson, P. D., Baines, K. H., Buratti, B. J., Sotin, C., Clark, R. N., Brown, R. H., French, R. G., & Marouf, E. A. (2009) · The Astronomical Journal · doi:10.1088/0004-6256/139/1/228 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Occultation of 28 Sgr by Saturn: Saturn Pole Position and Astrometry
Hubbard, W. B., Porco, C. C., Hunten, D. M., Rieke, G. H., Rieke, M. J., McCarthy, D. W., Haemmerle, V. R., Clark, R. N., Turtle, E. P., Haller, J. W., et al. (1993) · Icarus · doi:10.1006/icar.1993.1067 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Esposito, L. W., Harris, C. C., & Simmons, K. E. (1987) · The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series · doi:10.1086/191181 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Saturn's pole - geometric correction based on voyager UVS and radio occultations
Simpson, R. A., Tyler, G. L., & Holberg, J. B. (1983) · The Astronomical Journal · doi:10.1086/113443 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Regular structure in the inner Cassini Division of Saturn's rings
Flynn, B. C., & Cuzzi, J. N. (1989) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/0019-1035(89)90030-4 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Research works printed but not linked: 1
- Bosh, A. S. 1994, PhD thesis, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cited by
Sorted by citations
CASSINI UVIS STELLAR OCCULTATION OBSERVATIONS OF SATURN's RINGS
Colwell, J. E., Esposito, L. W., Jerousek, R. G., Sremčević, M., Pettis, D., & Bradley, E. T. (2010) · The Astronomical Journal · doi:10.1088/0004-6256/140/6/1569 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Deciphering the embedded wave in Saturn’s Maxwell ringlet
French, R. G., Nicholson, P. D., Hedman, M. M., Hahn, J. M., McGhee-French, C. A., Colwell, J. E., Marouf, E. A., & Rappaport, N. J. (2015) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2015.08.020 · Cited by 41 · see citing works
Self-citationNoncircular features in Saturn’s rings IV: Absolute radius scale and Saturn’s pole direction
French, R. G., McGhee-French, C. A., Lonergan, K., Sepersky, T., Jacobson, R. A., Nicholson, P. D., Hedman, M. M., Marouf, E. A., & Colwell, J. E. (2017) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2017.02.007 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Self-citationNoncircular features in Saturn’s rings II: The C ring
Nicholson, P. D., French, R. G., McGhee-French, C. A., Hedman, M. M., Marouf, E. A., Colwell, J. E., Lonergan, K., & Sepersky, T. (2014) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.06.024 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Self-citationSchinder, P. J., Flasar, F. M., Marouf, E. A., French, R. G., Anabtawi, A., Barbinis, E., & Kliore, A. J. (2015) · Radio Science · doi:10.1002/2015rs005690 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Self-citationThe shape and dynamics of a heliotropic dusty ringlet in the Cassini Division
Hedman, M. M., Burt, J. A., Burns, J. A., & Tiscareno, M. S. (2010) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2010.06.017 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Kronoseismology III: Waves in Saturn’s inner C ring
French, R. G., McGhee-French, C. A., Nicholson, P. D., & Hedman, M. M. (2018) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2018.10.013 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Self-citationNoncircular features in Saturn’s rings I: The edge of the B ring
Nicholson, P. D., French, R. G., Hedman, M. M., Marouf, E. A., & Colwell, J. E. (2013) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2013.09.002 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Self-citationFrench, R. G., Hedman, M. M., Nicholson, P. D., Longaretti, P., & McGhee-French, C. A. (2024) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2024.115957 · Cited by 24 · see citing works
Self-citationCuzzi, J. N., Filacchione, G., & Marouf, E. A. (2018) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316286791.003 · Cited by 18 · see citing works
Self-citationNoncircular features in Saturn’s rings III: The Cassini Division
French, R. G., Nicholson, P. D., McGhee-French, C. A., Lonergan, K., Sepersky, T., Hedman, M. M., Marouf, E. A., & Colwell, J. E. (2016) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2016.03.017 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Self-citationHedman, M. M., Burns, J. A., & Showalter, M. R. (2014) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.10.021 · Cited by 17 · see citing works
Narrow Rings, Gaps, and Sharp Edges
Nicholson, P. D., French, R. G., & Spitale, J. N. (2018) · Cambridge University Press eBooks · doi:10.1017/9781316286791.011 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
Self-citationAxisymmetric density waves in Saturn’s rings
Hedman, M. M., & Nicholson, P. D. (2019) · Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · doi:10.1093/mnras/stz301 · Cited by 10 · see citing works
ANN-BODY INTEGRATOR FOR GRAVITATING PLANETARY RINGS, AND THE OUTER EDGE OF SATURN'S B RING
Hahn, J. M., & Spitale, J. N. (2013) · The Astrophysical Journal · doi:10.1088/0004-637x/772/2/122 · Cited by 8 · see citing works
Saturn’s F ring is intermittently shepherded by Prometheus
Cuzzi, J. N., Marouf, E. A., French, R. G., Murray, C. D., & Cooper, N. J. (2024) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.adl6601 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationSutton, P. J. (2019) · Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society · doi:10.1093/mnras/stz563 · Cited by 5 · see citing works
“However, much of the finer scale structure is still not understood and has no apparent association with perturbing satellites (French et al 2010; Hedman et al 2010; French et al 2016).”
BackgroundThe complex shape of the outer edge of Saturn’s B ring, as observed in Cassini occultation data
French, R. G., Nicholson, P. D., McGhee-French, C. A., Longaretti, P., Hedman, M. M., Colwell, J. E., Marouf, E. A., Rappaport, N. J., Flury, S. R., Fong, J., et al. (2023) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2023.115678 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Self-citationA GPU-based phase tracking method for planetary radio science applications
Jian, N., Mikushin, D., Yan, J.-G., Barriot, J., Wu, Y., & Wang, G. (2020) · Measurement science and technology · doi:10.1088/1361-6501/ab58e5 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
The seven-lobed shape of the outer edge of Saturn’s A ring
Nicholson, P. D., French, R. G., McGhee-French, C. A., Longaretti, P., Hedman, M. M., Moutamid, M. E., Colwell, J. E., Marouf, E. A., Rappaport, N. J., Flury, S. R., et al. (2022) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115287 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationWestfall, J. E., & Sheehan, W. P. (2014) · Astrophysics and space science library · doi:10.1007/978-1-4939-1535-4_20
Unusual one-armed density waves in the Cassini Division of Saturn's rings
French, R. G., McGhee-French, C. A., Nicholson, P. D., Hedman, M. M., Rappaport, N. J., Marouf, E. A., Longaretti, P., & Hahn, J. M. (2019) · Icarus · doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2019.113600
Self-citation
- Authors
- French, R. G., Marouf, E. A., Rappaport, N. J., & McGhee, C. A.
- Affiliations
- Wellesley College (US)
- San Jose State University (US)
- Jet Propulsion Laboratory (US)
- Corresponding author
- French, Richard G.
- Venue
- The Astronomical Journal
- Publisher
- American Astronomical Society
- Published
- 2010-03-11
- Volume
- 139
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 1649-1667
- ISSN
- 0004-6256 (ISSN-L)
- 1538-3881
- OpenAlex
- W1972735051
- Cited by
- 22
- References
- 23
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 1 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 3 · 2013: 2
- FWCI
- 0.71
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- The Astronomical Journal (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Wellesley College
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Astro and Planetary Science
- Physical Sciences › Physics and Astronomy › Astronomy and Astrophysics › Stellar, planetary, and galactic studies
- Physical Sciences › Engineering › Aerospace Engineering › Space Satellite Systems and Control
- Keywords
- Saturn B ring, Cassini Division, ring occultation, Mimas, ring optical depth, Voyager 1, Voyager 2
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
