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PIA01390: Outer edge of Saturn's B-ring
This composite image shows two views of the outer edge of Saturn's B-ring (left) and the inner part of the Cassini Division (right) in the rings as seen by NASA's Voyager 2 on Aug. 25, 1981.
 Target Name:  S Rings
 Is a satellite of:  Saturn
 Mission:  Voyager 
 Spacecraft:  Voyager 2
 Instrument:  VG ISS - Narrow Angle 
 Product Size:  700 x 466 pixels (w x h) 
 Produced By:  JPL 
 Producer ID:  P24064  
 Addition Date:  1999-01-05 
 Primary Data Set:  Voyager EDRs 
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA01390.tif (125.5 kB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA01390.jpg (34.01 kB)  

Click on the image above to download a moderately sized image in JPEG format (possibly reduced in size from original)

Original Caption Released with Image:

This composite image shows two views of the outer edge of Saturn's B-ring (left) and the inner part of the Cassini Division (right) in the rings. The images were taken on opposite sides of the planet Aug. 25 from a range of 610,000 kilometers (380,000 miles). The dramatic result of this comparison is that the thin eccentric ringlet in the inner gap of the Cassini Division is shown not to match from side to side; moreover, the edge of the B-ring differs by about 50 km. (30 mi.) as well. Scientists believe the distorted shape of the B-ring edge is due to the gravitational influence of the Saturnian satellite Mimas. It is noted, too, that much of the fine B-ring structure also mismatches from side to side, possibly indicating that they are wave phenomena. The Voyager project is managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL

Image Addition Date:
1999-01-05