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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2025
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.18028 |
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| _version_ | 1866918047221022720 |
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| author | Rubbrecht, Niels Cazaux, Stéphanie Seignovert, Benoît Kenworthy, Matthew Kutsop, Nicholas Mouélic, Stéphane Le Loicq, Jérôme |
| author_facet | Rubbrecht, Niels Cazaux, Stéphanie Seignovert, Benoît Kenworthy, Matthew Kutsop, Nicholas Mouélic, Stéphane Le Loicq, Jérôme |
| contents | We report observations of stripe-like features in Enceladus' plumes captured simultaneously by Cassini's VIMS-IR and ISS NAC instruments during flyby E17, with similar patterns seen in VIMS-IR data from flyby E13 and E19. These parallel stripes, inclined at approximately 16$^{\circ}$ to the ecliptic and 43$^{\circ}$ to Saturn's ring plane, appear continuous across images when projected in the J2000 frame. A bright stripe, most visible at wavelengths around 5 $μ$m, acts as the zeroth-order diffraction peak of a reflection grating with an estimated groove spacing of 0.12$-$2.60 mm, while adjacent stripes are attributed to higher-order diffraction peaks. We suggest that this light-dispersing phenomenon originates from an inclined periodic structure within Saturn's E ring. This structure, constrained between Saturn's G ring and Rhea's orbit, likely consists of fresh ice particles supplied by Enceladus' plumes. |
| format | Preprint |
| id |
arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2502_18028 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Peculiar rainbows in Saturn's E ring: Uncovering luminous bands near Enceladus Rubbrecht, Niels Cazaux, Stéphanie Seignovert, Benoît Kenworthy, Matthew Kutsop, Nicholas Mouélic, Stéphane Le Loicq, Jérôme Earth and Planetary Astrophysics We report observations of stripe-like features in Enceladus' plumes captured simultaneously by Cassini's VIMS-IR and ISS NAC instruments during flyby E17, with similar patterns seen in VIMS-IR data from flyby E13 and E19. These parallel stripes, inclined at approximately 16$^{\circ}$ to the ecliptic and 43$^{\circ}$ to Saturn's ring plane, appear continuous across images when projected in the J2000 frame. A bright stripe, most visible at wavelengths around 5 $μ$m, acts as the zeroth-order diffraction peak of a reflection grating with an estimated groove spacing of 0.12$-$2.60 mm, while adjacent stripes are attributed to higher-order diffraction peaks. We suggest that this light-dispersing phenomenon originates from an inclined periodic structure within Saturn's E ring. This structure, constrained between Saturn's G ring and Rhea's orbit, likely consists of fresh ice particles supplied by Enceladus' plumes. |
| title | Peculiar rainbows in Saturn's E ring: Uncovering luminous bands near Enceladus |
| topic | Earth and Planetary Astrophysics |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2502.18028 |