NASA telescope discovers giant ring around Saturn

Clifurd · 10-08-2009, 06:08 AM

PASADENA, Calif. — The Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered the biggest but never-before-seen ring around the planet Saturn, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced late Tuesday.

The thin array of ice and dust particles lies at the far reaches of the Saturnian system and its orbit is tilted 27 degrees from the planet's main ring plane, the laboratory said.

JPL spokeswoman Whitney Clavin said the ring is very diffuse and doesn't reflect much visible light but the infrared Spitzer telescope was able to detect it.

http://www.comcast.net/articles/news...rn.Giant.Ring/

Wasn't sure where to post this. Also couldn't figure out how to post an Image.

kidflash2008 · 10-08-2009, 10:18 AM

The ring is massive but very thin. It also can only be detected with an infrared camera.

General area would of been good for this story too.

10-08-2009, 06:08 AM	#1
Clifurd Junior Investigator Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Iowa Posts: 61	NASA telescope discovers giant ring around Saturn PASADENA, Calif. — The Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered the biggest but never-before-seen ring around the planet Saturn, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory announced late Tuesday. The thin array of ice and dust particles lies at the far reaches of the Saturnian system and its orbit is tilted 27 degrees from the planet's main ring plane, the laboratory said. JPL spokeswoman Whitney Clavin said the ring is very diffuse and doesn't reflect much visible light but the infrared Spitzer telescope was able to detect it. http://www.comcast.net/articles/news...rn.Giant.Ring/ Wasn't sure where to post this. Also couldn't figure out how to post an Image.

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10-08-2009, 10:18 AM	#2
kidflash2008 Senior Investigator Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 1,699	The ring is massive but very thin. It also can only be detected with an infrared camera. General area would of been good for this story too.