Saturn Satellites: Collapse & Reconstruction

In summary, there is a theory that a collision with another object caused one of Saturn's satellites to collapse, and then gravity brought the pieces back together, resulting in a satellite with cracks. This theory is speculative and may be related to the satellites of Uranus or the rings and their moons. Janus may have more information on this topic.
  • #1
nzahra_ghasemi
21
0
I hear that saturn satellites collapsed because of an incident or s.th like this and then because of their gravity they reconstructed again.
what do you think or know about it?!
 
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  • #2
I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about. What do you mean by "Saturn's satellites collapsed"? What does "reconstruct" mean here?
 
  • #3
a collision with s.th else cause one of the saturn's satellite to collapse.
and then the gravity packed (united)the parts again so it still is a satellite but with cracks
 
  • #4
....
 
  • #5
nzahra_ghasemi said:
a collision with s.th else cause one of the saturn's satellite to collapse.
and then the gravity packed (united)the parts again so it still is a satellite but with cracks

Well, it's possible that a collision would cause the satellite to be broken into many pieces. These pieces might then form a disk around Saturn in which new objects could form. I'm not familiar with this specific theory, however.
 
  • #6
nzahra_ghasemi said:
a collision with s.th else cause one of the saturn's satellite to collapse.
and then the gravity packed (united)the parts again so it still is a satellite but with cracks

Could you possibly be thinking of
Miranda, a satellite of Uranus?
 
  • #7
Or something to do with the rings, and the various ring moons?
 
  • #8
Tethys has a large impact crater that records a blow that must have almost disrupted the entire moon. Mimas has one even larger in proportion to Mimas's diameter. It has been suggested that Mimas may have been disrupted by a strike that was larger still, with the material then recoalescing into the present satellite. This is all very speculative.
 
  • #9
I think Janus is on the right track.
 
  • #10
yes Janus can be usefull ,thanks
 

1. What caused the collapse of Saturn's satellites?

The collapse of Saturn's satellites is believed to have been caused by the gravitational pull of Saturn's rings. As the rings moved closer to the planet, they exerted a stronger gravitational force on the satellites, causing them to break apart.

2. How long did the collapse of Saturn's satellites last?

The collapse of Saturn's satellites is estimated to have occurred over a period of several million years. This gradual process was likely due to the slow movement of Saturn's rings and the varying levels of gravitational pull on the satellites.

3. Did all of Saturn's satellites collapse?

No, not all of Saturn's satellites collapsed. Some of the larger moons, such as Titan and Rhea, were able to withstand the gravitational forces and remain intact. However, smaller moons and debris from the collapsed satellites can still be found in Saturn's rings.

4. How were Saturn's satellites reconstructed?

Saturn's satellites were reconstructed through a process called accretion, where smaller pieces of debris from the collapsed satellites clumped together due to their mutual gravitational attraction. This process eventually formed the new, smaller moons that we see orbiting Saturn today.

5. What can studying the collapse and reconstruction of Saturn's satellites tell us about other planetary systems?

By studying the collapse and reconstruction of Saturn's satellites, we can gain a better understanding of how planetary systems evolve and change over time. This knowledge can then be applied to other systems in our universe, helping us to better understand the formation and evolution of planets and their moons.

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