Scientists have uncovered the illusion of Saturn’s rings – Dni.Ru

American scientists have uncovered the important misconception of modern science with respect to the rings of Saturn. After examining photos of the planet, made by the Cassini probe, experts have come to the conclusion that the central, most bright rings of Saturn – optical illusion.

in the US group of scientists from Cornell University has carefully studied the pictures of the central gas and dust rings of Saturn, the Cassini probe are made at different times. In an article published in the journal Icarus, experts assure that their impressive and “fat” is a kind of optical illusion. In fact, Saturn’s rings contain three times less material than previously thought .

“Appearances can be deceptive. The best analogy to this situation with Saturn’s rings it is, how foggy meadow may seem less transparent and blank , than water-filled pool, which has a much higher density than the fog “, – says the study’s author, Phil Nicholson of Cornell University in Ithaca (USA)

a group of scientists led by Nicholson for the first time precisely “weighed” the rings of Saturn and found that its central and, what is considered a modern science , studying seemed very heavy ring is really contains much less gas and dust data collected by the Cassini probe during the flyby of the giant planet. This means that potentially all the other rings of Saturn are much younger than previously thought – they were formed not billions, but hundreds of millions of years ago.

Thus, the discovery of changes and ideas about how the system could be formed Saturn’s rings – their progenitor, was most likely destroyed satellite, “lord of the rings”, which was destroyed by the action of tidal forces, rather than the primary matter of the solar system, according to some scientists

. 12:28 / 04.02.2016 Cassini, space, Saturn, scientists