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Giant towers were found on Saturn. / June 18, 2009 /

Scientists discovered in the rings of Saturn giant «towers» that can reach a height of more than 1.5 kilometers. This was reported in the press release on the official site of the project CICLOPS, which analyzes images from the probe Cassini.

According to scientists, these objects are the result of gravitational effects on the ring (the thickness of which does not exceed 10 meters) satellite Daphne. The object diameter of about 8 kilometers «dwells» in the crack Kilera ring A. Previously, scientists had managed to watch the waves that gravity keeps the satellite in the rings, but the «tower», such as discovery, scientists have seen before.

The opening was made possible thanks to the special situation of the Sun on the Saturn, which takes approximately every luminary in the earth 15 years. At that time, the rays fall on the ring by a very acute angle, and all sorts of irregularities cast long shadows. It is for the greatness of shadows, scientists were able to identify the height of the detected peaks.

Scientists point out that the existence of these towers had been predicted on the results of computer simulations. New data show that existing models of the motion of objects in the system of Saturn is quite accurate and agree well with reality.

Cassini probe was launched in 1997 and reached Saturn in 2004. The unit is a joint project of ESA, NASA and the Italian Space Agency. In connection with the many successes in 2008, NASA has decided to extend the time of the apparatus. In doing so, changed the name of the mission: from the Cassini-Huygens ( "Cassini-Huygens), it has evolved into Cassini Equinox (which translates as the equinox).

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