Rings of Jovian Planets

Flashcards relating to the rings of Jovian planets, Uranus, Neptune, Jupiter, and Saturn, including their composition, structure, and potential origins.

Ring Systems

All Jovian planets have these, but only Saturn's are visible with a backyard telescope.

Equatorial Plane

Position of all rings around Jovian planets.

Rings

Uranus has at least 13 of these.

Uranus and Neptune

Rings of these ice giants are not continuous but contain individual particles in nearly circular Keplerian orbits.

Kepler's Third Law

Particles closer to the planet orbit with a shorter period and faster speed than particles farther from the planet.

Rock, Dust, and Ice

The rings of Uranus and Neptune are likely a combination of these from collisional fragments of moons.

600,000 years

Hypothesized age of the rings around Uranus.

Dust Particles

Jupiter's rings are composed of these.

100 to 1,000 years

Estimated lifetime of ring dust around Jupiter.

Galileo

Observed Saturn's rings first.

Cassini Division

Distinct gap in Saturn's rings.

Water Ice (~99%)

Composition of Saturn's highly reflective rings.

Nearly Circular Keplerian Orbits

General shape of the orbit of particles in Saturn's rings.

Gap Moons

Most accepted hypothesis for the formation and maintenance of Saturn's rings involves these moons.

Gap (or shepherd) moon

Small moon located within the gap of a planet’s ring system, and whose gravity helps clear the gap of material