Explanation: In Greek Mythology, Prometheus was known for stealing fire from the gods. Ironically, in a story for more modern times Prometheus may also become known for stealing, but this time for stealing icy particles from Saturn's rings. This eerie close-up from the Cassini spacecraft shows the 100 kilometer-long Saturnian moon Prometheus orbiting near the inner edge of Saturn's F ring. The dramatic view clearly resolves the potato-shaped moon and multiple strands of the narrow F ring. It also reveals a faint strand of material connecting Prometheus with the rings. One possibility is that the tiny moon's gravity is indeed drawing off particles from the rings and is influencing the formation of the gaps and kinks seen in the ring structure.

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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.

Publikacii s klyuchevymi slovami: Prometheus - Saturn - rings - Saturn - kol'ca Publikacii so slovami: Prometheus - Saturn - rings - Saturn - kol'ca
Sm. takzhe: Vremena goda na Saturne Severnyi shestiugol'nik na Saturne Kassini smotrit na Saturn Saturn noch'yu Saturn s 1993 do 2022 goda Saturn v infrakrasnom svete ot "Kassini" Saturn i MKS Vse publikacii na tu zhe temu >>