Daphnis is one of Saturns small moons that is embedded in the Keeler gap in the ring system. This image from Cassini shows it kicking up waves as it orbits.
Daphnis is only about 8 km across, but its gravity is powerful enough to disrupt the particles near the edge of the A ring at the Keeler gap’s edge. Wave-like features form as the moon moves along.
Image Credit: NASA
Daphnis is one of Saturns small moons that is embedded in the Keeler gap in the ring system. This image from Cassini shows it kicking up waves as it orbits.
Daphnis is only about 8 km across, but its gravity is powerful enough to disrupt the particles near the edge of the A ring at the Keeler gap’s edge. Wave-like features form as the moon moves along.
Image Credit: NASA
Some of Saturn’s smaller moons are integral with the planet’s rings. These moons create art on a canvas of the rings with gravity as their tool. Here Prometheus is seen sculpting the F ring while Daphnis (smaller than one pixel in this image) raises waves on the edges of the Keeler gap. The image scale is 11 km per pixel.
Prometheus (86 km across) is just above image center; Daphnis (8 km across) is in the Keeler gap just to the right of center and can be located by the waves it creates on the edges of the gap. Prometheus has been brightened to enhance their visibility in this picture. This visible light image looks toward the unlit side of the rings from below the ringplane.
Image Credit: NASA