Something punches hole in Saturn's F Ring.....photos included....

[jus_the_facts]

....in the past month something big hit Jupiter...Venus and now Saturn's rings.... :wow:


http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/multimedia/pia11662.html

As Saturn approaches its August 2009 equinox, a shadow is cast by a narrow, vertically extended feature in the F ring.

Scientists are working to understand the origin of structures such as this one, but they think this image may show the shadow of an object on an inclined orbit which has punched through the F ring and dragged material along in its path.

[tridim]

1. Wow, that is incredible looking!

[DJ13]

2. I would be worried if it punched a hole in Uranus

(Sorry, couldnt help myself....)

[MineralMan]

3. Uff da! Lots of debris out there right now, it looks like.

I hope none of it gets here.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. You can say that again!

[tridim]

9. I think I'm correct in assuming most of the debris caused by this will remain in Saturn's orbit.

Saturn is huge.

[MineralMan]

11. Yes, it will. But that's not necessarily what I'm talking about.

Jupiter got whacked by a big chunk just recently, and Saturn, too, perhaps. Now we have this third visible incident. I'm not worried about the chunks of whatever that are peppering the giant planets. I'm concerned about the ones that aren't and that may be passing through those orbits on their way toward the Sun.

Saturn and Jupiter sweep up what they can, but there are those bits that hide under the kick rail, only to appear to cut your foot late at night when the lights are out, you see.

It's all part of the same solar system, and this junk is headed sunward. We're third planet out. If there's enough junk heading in, well...it's all in the timing.

[timeforpeace]

4. The book "Footfall" by Larry Niven and Jerry Pournelle begins with this specific event. You don't

want to know what it portends. Suffice to say, I for one welcome our new overlords.

[phantom power]

6. Technically, it was the assumed explaination for ring "braiding."

But it actually made me think of Footfall too.

:patriot:

[GreenPartyVoter]

7. I haven't read that one in years.

[rurallib]

8. did they bring universal health care with them?

[krispos42]

18. Well, Palin's "death panels" at least

In the form of laser beams and such.

[CanonRay]

10. Lead me herdmaster!

:thumbsup:

[hootinholler]

17. Is that the one they built a spacecraft powered by nukes?

They sci fi runs together as I age, lol.

-Hoot

[krispos42]

19. I believe so.

They build a giant saucer-shaped spaceship and keep detonating nukes in the focus of the parabolic base for propulsion.


Sounds... festive.

[hootinholler]

23. Festive?

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

-Hoot

[byronius]

12. Officially spooky. Jupiter hit, Venus glowing --

It's not coming it's not coming it's not coming.

[damntexdem]

13. What the F?

Can't those ETs drive their UFOs with sufficient caution?

[DCKit]

16. Damn illegals probably aren't even insured. n/t

[Nihil]

21. Your post reminded me of the alien dudes in "Heavy Metal"!

:-)

[progressoid]

14. Damn, that's pretty cool.

[quiet.american]

15. Hmn. Torchwood's pretty much kaput. Hope the Doctor is somewhere nearby.

[comtec]

20. Has waters of mars been on and I missed it?

I have been WAITING for the second 'mini-movie' to play and I have not seen any mention of it on the BBC.

when it is supposed to air?

That aside... k e w l~ !

It seems all this is happening around the persids...i wonder if they are all related this year?

[Nihil]

22. Not yet

> Has waters of mars been on and I missed it?

Not yet. Last I heard I was due out in November.

> It seems all this is happening around the persids.

Hope to f*ck that this doesn't tie in with the Perseids or it
could certainly be an "interesting" week ...

[comtec]

24. If water of mars is November...

when are they going to play the next two?

Dr who was supposed to have 4 eps :cry:
I guess you saw the last movie/ep of Torchwood then?
omfg I nearly cried!

Well so far it's been boring. and it's day time here in Holland (the problem with being north is by the time i need to goto bed it's STILL light out)

[Soylent Brice]

25. K&R