"We think the only way these moons could have reached the sizes they are now was to start off with a massive core to which the smaller, more porous ring particles could easily become bound," Porco said. The theory also offers an alternative explanation for how more distant moons, such as Janus and Epimetheus, formed. Scientists posit these moons were once closer to their parent planet and were sprung out to their present locations due to their gravitational effects on the rings. The models now suggest Janus, Epimetheus and a clutch of other sibling moons could have formed entirely from ring debris even if they lacked a dense core, such as Pan's, to start off with. The outer moons also could be shards from a collision which, over time, bonded with additional matter. A related study of unusual ridges in the equatorial regions of Pan and Atlas, another Saturn moon, may help scientists understand the forces at work in the formation of planets. Cassini has been studying Saturn and its moons since 2004. Related Links: |
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