Are Saturn's rings actually young?
- Others:
- Joseph Louis LAGRANGE (LAGRANGE) ; Université Nice Sophia Antipolis (1965 - 2019) (UNS) ; COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Observatoire de la Côte d'Azur ; COMUE Université Côte d'Azur (2015-2019) (COMUE UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Université Côte d'Azur (UCA)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
- Institut Universitaire de France (IUF) ; Ministère de l'Education nationale, de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche (M.E.N.E.S.R.)
- Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPGP) ; Institut national des sciences de l'Univers (INSU - CNRS)-Université Paris Diderot - Paris 7 (UPD7)-Université de La Réunion (UR)-Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (IPG Paris)-Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS)
Description
Spectacular results from Cassini's Grand Finale have provided constraints on the characteristics and evolutionary processes of Saturn's rings. These results have been interpreted as proof that the rings are much younger than the Solar System, dramatically changing our view of the origin of the whole Saturnian system and attracting the attention of scientific media outlets. But we should keep in mind that the age of the rings has not actually been measured (which is impossible per se) but rather is inferred. Here, we put these latest results into perspective and we point out that the young-rings hypothesis has some unsolved problems. Other interpretations, compatible with rings as old as the Solar System, are still possible.
Abstract
International audience
Additional details
- URL
- https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-03586613
- URN
- urn:oai:HAL:insu-03586613v1
- Origin repository
- UNICA