The Cassini division is the separation between rings A (outer) and B (inside) from Saturn. It was discovered by Giovanni Cassini in 1675. This separation is 122,340 km from Saturn's center and has a width of about 4,800 km.

Although at first glance appears to be no separation in this material, recent studies reveal that it is just an area with lower density material. The cause of the shortage of material in the Cassini division is the gravitational influence with the satellite Mimas. The Cassini division is in gravitational resonance with the orbit of the satellite so that the material is ejected by successive steps of Mimas.

The rings of Saturn have other major divisions such as the Encke division or the division of Keeler but the Cassini division is more intense and the only that can be clearly spotted with an amateur telescope.

by Astronova on 2011-07-05 14:23:56 [Original Size] - [Next Image] - [Author's gallery]