Mini-Jets in Saturn's F-Ring

New images from the Cassini spacecraft reveal rogue kilometer-sized objects punching through Saturn's F-ring as the source of 'mini-jets' seen emanating from the ring.

Saturn's narrow F-ring is already known to host a variety of dynamic features including channels, ripples and 'snowballs' that are created by the gravitational influence of nearby moon Prometheus. While some snowballs are likely broken up by collisions and tidal forces, the new images reveal five hundred separate cases where small surviving fragments punch through the F-ring, dragging icy ring particles with them.

The objects collide with the ring at low speeds of around two meters per second, resulting in 'mini-jets' that extend between 40 and 180 kilometers from the ring. In some cases the snowball impacts occur in groups, creating exotic patterns as they drag through the ring.

Video credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SSI/QMUL; text credit: ESA

Note: There are quite a few recent articles about this story; see:
* Cassini Movie Shows Blazing Trails in Saturn's F-ring
* Blazing Trails in Saturn’s F-ring Seen by Cassini
* PIA15500: Glittering Trail in Saturn's F Ring
* PIA15501: F Ring Patterns
* PIA15502: Small Trail at Saturn Orbit Insertion
* PIA15503: Classic Trails or Mini-Jets
* PIA15504: Exotic Trails or Mini-Jets
* PIA15505: Wavy, Wiggly Ring
* Cassini Sees Objects Blazing Trails in Saturn Ring