Based on images from Cassini, models of the ring particle environment in the approximately 1,200 - mile - wide (2,000 - kilometer - wide) region between Saturn and
its rings suggested the area would not have large particles that would pose a danger to the spacecraft.
Not exact matches
Data
suggest that although the ice - rich
rings have only 15 % of Chariklo's surface
area, they reflect almost three times as much light on an
area - to -
area comparison.
The best models for the region
suggested that if there were
ring particles in the
area where Cassini crossed the
ring plane, they would be tiny, on the scale of smoke particles.
The discovery
suggests that when the rover descends into the crater in a few months, it may find a bathtub
ring of the tiny concretions — an ancient high - water mark
suggesting the
area was altered by ground, not surface, water.
Declining municipal revenues and tighter credit may also shift more development emphasis to inner -
ring brownfield
areas near major cities,
suggests Brad Kaplan of Ulmer & Berne LLP in Cincinnati.