Recent photos of Saturn’s rings show that the mysterious spokes first seen in the early 80s are still there.
Recent photos of Saturn’s rings show that the mysterious spokes first seen in the early 80s are still there.
The bright lines, which cross the planet’s darkened B ring, have remained a mystery since they were first discovered.
Many theories have been posed and considered, but none have served as a sufficient explanation for the spokes’ presence.
It’s been ruled out that they’re a result of any sort of gravitational force whether it be from the planet, its moons, or the rings themselves.
The gas giant’s magnetic field on the other hand, could have something do with the flares’ appearance.
Also believed is that the marks are seasonal, as they haven’t been spotted during midwinter.
That’s also tough to say for sure, as one year on Saturn is the equivalent of about 30 on Earth.
The approaching northern summer solstice however, could provide some insights on the possible nature of the spokes.
NASA hasn’t offered or accepted any official explanation, but has remained committed to studying the phenomenon over time.
The latest photos were taken in October 2013 by the wide-angle camera on NASA’s Cassini craft as it traveled about 1.2 million miles from the planet.
