The Encke Gap is a 325-km (200 mile) wide gap within the A ring, centered at a distance of 133,590 km (83,000 miles) from Saturn's center. [117] It is caused by the presence of the small moon Pan , [ 118 ] which orbits within it.

2008年6月12日 · The Encke Gap in Saturn's A ring is maintained by the presence of the moon Pan, which shares the gap with several diffuse ringlets. The scalloped appearance in the inner (left side) edge of the gap results from perturbations caused by Pan as it sweeps through the 325-kilometer (200-mile) wide lane.

The "Encke gap" is due the the gravitational pull of a small moon called Pan that actually orbits Saturn within the gap. The "Keeler gap" (also in outer A ring) is similarly due to a small moon called Daphnis that orbits Saturn within the gap.

…of the B ring; the Encke gap (2.21 Saturn radii), a gap in the outer part of the A ring; and the Keeler gap (2.26 Saturn radii), almost at the outer edge of the A ring. Of these gaps, only Encke was known prior to spacecraft exploration of Saturn. Read More

2004年7月1日 · This image shows in superb detail the region in Saturn's rings known as the Encke Gap. It was taken by the narrow angle camera on the Cassini spacecraft after successful entry into Saturn's orbit. The view shows the sunlit side of the rings.

It is approximately 35 kilometres across and 23 km wide and orbits within the Encke Gap in Saturn's A Ring. Pan is a ring shepherd and is responsible for keeping the Encke Gap free of ring particles. It is sometimes described as having the appearance of a walnut, or ravioli. [5]

2006年9月1日 · The Encke gap displays gentle waves in its inner and outer edges that are caused by gravitational tugs from the small moon Pan. These scalloped edges were captured in a dramatic image taken by Cassini during its insertion into Saturn orbit in 2004.

2014年4月21日 · Saturn’s moon Pan, named for the Greek god of shepherds, rules over quite a different domain: the Encke gap in Saturn’s rings. Pan (17 miles, or 28 kilometers across) keeps the Encke gap open through its gravitational influence on the ring particles nearby.

2015年1月8日 · Pan orbits Saturn within the Encke Gap, a break in Saturn’s A ring located about 83,000 miles from the planet. As Pan travels through the gap, its gravity pushes aside ring particles and creates a wake in the surrounding rings.

2005年6月24日 · The little moon is responsible for clearing and maintaining this gap, named for Johann Franz Encke, who discovered it in 1837. Pan is 20 kilometers (12 miles) across. The top image reveals two of the faint, dusty ringlets that occupy the gap along with Pan.