Dynamical Studies of Saturn's Rings

Abstract

The data returned by the Voyager on the Saturnian system has revealed the structure of Saturn's ring system to be dominated by many abrupt transitions in optical depth, narrow well-defined ringlets and gaps, and spiral density and bending waves. A handful of these features were attributed with reasonable certainty to the resonant influence of external satellites, but the vast majority of the structure remains unexplained. The entire C ring was studied with particular emphasis on the search for unrecognized eccentric or inclined features, and the role, if any, played by satellite resonances in controlling C ring structure.