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is the provisional designation of an object seen orbiting Saturn just beyond the outer strand of the
Cassini Imaging Science Team
in images taken by the Cassini–Huygens probe on June 21, 2004 and announced on September 9, 2004.
Despite later attempts to recover it, it has not been reliably sighted since. Notably, an imaging sequence covering an entire orbital period at 4 km resolution taken on November 15, 2004 failed to recover the object. The sequence should have been easily capable of detecting a moon of similar size, suggesting it to simply be a transient clump. An approximate linkage could be made of S/2004 S 3 to S/2004 S 4, and matched to two other detected clumps on other dates, but considering its non-detection in November, their relation is probably coincidental.
Another object, , was sighted nearby 5 hours later, but this time just ''inside'' the F Ring. Because of the differing localisation the second object was given a fresh designation, although their interpretation as a single object on a F-ring crossing orbit is also possible. Such an object might also be orbiting at a slightly different inclination to the F ring, thereby not actually passing through the ring material despite being seen both radially inward and outward of it.
If a solid object after all, would be 3–5 km in diameter based on brightness, and might be a shepherd satellite for the outer edge of Saturn's F
F ring
The rings of Saturn are the most extensive ring system of any planet in the Solar System. They consist of countless small particles, ranging in size from micrometers to meters, that orbit around Saturn. The ring particles are made almost entir ...
on June 21, 2004. It was discovered by thCassini Imaging Science Team
in images taken by the Cassini–Huygens probe on June 21, 2004 and announced on September 9, 2004.
Despite later attempts to recover it, it has not been reliably sighted since. Notably, an imaging sequence covering an entire orbital period at 4 km resolution taken on November 15, 2004 failed to recover the object. The sequence should have been easily capable of detecting a moon of similar size, suggesting it to simply be a transient clump. An approximate linkage could be made of S/2004 S 3 to S/2004 S 4, and matched to two other detected clumps on other dates, but considering its non-detection in November, their relation is probably coincidental.
Another object, , was sighted nearby 5 hours later, but this time just ''inside'' the F Ring. Because of the differing localisation the second object was given a fresh designation, although their interpretation as a single object on a F-ring crossing orbit is also possible. Such an object might also be orbiting at a slightly different inclination to the F ring, thereby not actually passing through the ring material despite being seen both radially inward and outward of it.
If a solid object after all, would be 3–5 km in diameter based on brightness, and might be a shepherd satellite for the outer edge of Saturn's F ring
Ring may refer to:
* Ring (jewellery), a round band, usually made of metal, worn as ornamental jewelry
* To make a sound with a bell, and the sound made by a bell
:(hence) to initiate a telephone connection
Arts, entertainment and media Film and ...
.
References
Explanatory Citations Sources * * * (claiming recovery of on October 17, 2004 in conflict with the later ) * *External links
* * – images of the clumps and/or moons seen around the F ring by Cassini cameras {{DEFAULTSORT:S 2004 S 3 Moons of Saturn 20040621