[Baps] Planetary Talk: Alison Farmer, Tue 12:30 pm CfA

[Sarah T. Stewart-Mukhopadhyay]

Planetary Science Talk

"Ghosts of Saturn: understanding the ring spokes"
Alison Farmer
Caltech

The "spokes" in Saturn's rings have eluded explanation since their discovery
by the Voyager spacecraft 25 years ago. These mysterious radial dust lanes
spring into existence in under five minutes, then fade away in hours as they
are sheared apart by the rings' rotation. Unlike most features in the rings,
they cannot be explained by gravitation alone, but require electromagnetic
forces. I will describe the interesting physics involved, and will propose a
new theory of spoke formation that looks set to explain the observations. 

DATE:  Dec. 7, Tuesday, 12:30pm
LOCATION:
   Pratt Conference Room (G04)
   Center for Astrophysics
   60 Garden Street

Maps: http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/images/cfa_60Garden.jpg
http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/mapclk.html


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