1. Aegaeon (Saturn LIII), a G-ring object
- Author
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Hedman, M.M., Cooper, N.J., Murray, C.D., Beurle, K., Evans, M.W., Tiscareno, M.S., and Burns, J.A.
- Subjects
Artificial satellites -- Analysis ,Astronomy -- Analysis ,Astronomy ,Earth sciences - Abstract
To link to full-text access for this article, visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2009.10.024 Byline: M.M. Hedman (a), N.J. Cooper (b), C.D. Murray (b), K. Beurle (b), M.W. Evans (b)(a), M.S. Tiscareno (a), J.A. Burns (a)(c) Keywords: Saturn, Satellites; Saturn, Rings; Satellites, Dynamics; Resonances, Orbital Abstract: Aegaeon (Saturn LIII, S/2008 S1) is a small satellite of Saturn that orbits within a bright arc of material near the inner edge of Saturn's G-ring. This object was observed in 21 images with Cassini's Narrow-Angle Camera between June 15 (DOY 166), 2007 and February 20 (DOY 051), 2009. If Aegaeon has similar surface scattering properties as other nearby small saturnian satellites (Pallene, Methone and Anthe), then its diameter is approximately 500m. Orbit models based on numerical integrations of the full equations of motion show that Aegaeon's orbital motion is strongly influenced by multiple resonances with Mimas. In particular, like the G-ring arc it inhabits, Aegaeon is trapped in the 7:6 corotation eccentricity resonance with Mimas. Aegaeon, Anthe and Methone therefore form a distinctive class of objects in the Saturn system: small moons in corotation eccentricity resonances with Mimas associated with arcs of debris. Comparisons among these different ring-arc systems reveal that Aegaeon's orbit is closer to the exact resonance than Anthe's and Methone's orbits are. This could indicate that Aegaeon has undergone significant orbital evolution via its interactions with the other objects in its arc, which would be consistent with the evidence that Aegaeon's mass is much smaller relative to the total mass in its arc than Anthe's and Methone's masses are. Author Affiliation: (a) Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA (b) Queen Mary University of London, Astronomy Unit, School of Mathematical Sciences, Mile End Road, London E1 4NS, UK (c) Department of Theoretical and Applied Mechanics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA Article History: Received 29 July 2009; Revised 28 October 2009; Accepted 29 October 2009 Article Note: (footnote) [star] This paper is dedicated to the memory of Kevin Beurle.
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- 2010