In the rings of Saturn predominates the tranquility
2005/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria
The rings of Saturn are formed by thousands of stones, some of them tiny, the size of dust particles, and other giants, as large as mountains. Astronomers believed that these stones were constantly colliding with each other and turning rapidly as a result of these shocks. But the measurements made from NASA's Cassini probe indicate the opposite. The temperature of several stones has been measured in the rings, each with a hot side and the other cold. The temperature difference between both sides is approximately fifteen degrees. This means that the rotation of the stones is slow; if it were fast, the rays of the Sun would warm both sides and the temperature in both would be the same. And if the rotation of the stones is slow, there can be no many shocks between them.
