A Recent Impact Origin of Saturn’s Rings and Mid-sized Moons

Teodoro, L. F. A.; Kegerreis, J. A.; Estrada, P. R.; Ćuk, M.; Eke, V. R.; Cuzzi, J. N.; Massey, R. J.; Sandnes, T. D.

doi:10.3847/1538-4357/acf4ed

A Recent Impact Origin of Saturn’s Rings and Mid-sized Moons

Teodoro, L. F. A.; Kegerreis, J. A.; Estrada, P. R.; Ćuk, M.; Eke, V. R.; Cuzzi, J. N.; Massey, R. J.; Sandnes, T. D.

Authors

L. F. A. Teodoro

Jacob Kegerreis jacob.kegerreis@durham.ac.uk
Academic Visitor

P. R. Estrada

M. Ćuk

Dr Vincent Eke v.r.eke@durham.ac.uk
Associate Professor

J. N. Cuzzi

Professor Richard Massey r.j.massey@durham.ac.uk
Professor

T. D. Sandnes

Abstract

We simulate the collision of precursor icy moons analogous to Dione and Rhea as a possible origin for Saturn's remarkably young rings. Such an event could have been triggered a few hundred million years ago by resonant instabilities in a previous satellite system. Using high-resolution smoothed particle hydrodynamics simulations, we find that this kind of impact can produce a wide distribution of massive objects and scatter material throughout the system. This includes the direct placement of pure-ice ejecta onto orbits that enter Saturn's Roche limit, which could form or rejuvenate rings. In addition, fragments and debris of rock and ice totaling more than the mass of Enceladus can be placed onto highly eccentric orbits that would intersect with any precursor moons orbiting in the vicinity of Mimas, Enceladus, or Tethys. This could prompt further disruption and facilitate a collisional cascade to distribute more debris for potential ring formation, the re-formation of the present-day moons, and evolution into an eventual cratering population of planetocentric impactors.

Citation

Teodoro, L. F. A., Kegerreis, J. A., Estrada, P. R., Ćuk, M., Eke, V. R., Cuzzi, J. N., Massey, R. J., & Sandnes, T. D. (2023). A Recent Impact Origin of Saturn’s Rings and Mid-sized Moons. Astrophysical Journal, 955(2), Article 137. https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf4ed

Journal Article Type	Article
Acceptance Date	Aug 26, 2023
Online Publication Date	Sep 27, 2023
Publication Date	Sep 27, 2023
Deposit Date	Feb 26, 2024
Publicly Available Date	Feb 26, 2024
Journal	The Astrophysical Journal
Print ISSN	0004-637X
Electronic ISSN	1538-4357
Publisher	American Astronomical Society
Peer Reviewed	Peer Reviewed
Volume	955
Issue	2
Article Number	137
DOI	https://doi.org/10.3847/1538-4357/acf4ed
Keywords	Space and Planetary Science; Astronomy and Astrophysics
Public URL	https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2286933

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