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Target 2:
Pan and Rings with Chris
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Transcript for Target 2 Video
Hi, I'm Chris, a Science Planning Engineer for the Cassini Mission.
If I were given the choice, I would really want Cassini to point at target number two.
With the narrow-angle camera we have the chance to point at Pan.
Pan is a mere 17 miles across, and it orbits within the 200-mile-wide Encke Gap in Saturn's A ring. This very tiny moon is responsible for clearing and maintaining this relatively large gap! It is somewhat like a snowplow clearing a road full of snow!!
But why does one of the ringlets found in the Enke Gap occupy nearly the same orbit as Pan? And why is Pan thought to cause the waves or ripples in the edges of the Encke Gap as it passes by?
There are many gaps in Saturn's rings, but so far we've only found moons in two of them: Pan in the Encke Gap and Daphnis in the Keeler Gap. Some scientists believe that there must be a moon in every gap. Why haven't we found more moons in gaps?
Good science always starts with good questions. As Scientists for A Day you'll not only need to ask the right questions, but you'll also need to piece together the answers!
I say let's take the chance and try to learn more about Pan and the A Ring. Let's point the spacecraft at target number two!
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