Satellites leave Saturn faster and faster

The satellites gradually leave the planet they orbit around.

This happens in the case of the Moon - the Earth's natural satellite: Each year, the Moon leaves about 3.8 cm from the Earth. The same goes for the case of Titan - Saturn's largest satellite: It is leaving Saturn at a rate of about 11 cm / year - faster than expected.

Titan and Saturn satellites.

The research published in the journal "Nature Astronomy" (UK) related to Titan and 5 satellites of Saturn. Scientists receive new data on the so-called Tidal Quality Factor (Q) - a coefficient that reflects the influence of the gravity of the celestial bodies on the system on an object. As it turned out, for Saturn, the factor Q is 100 times smaller than originally calculated. That means Titan leaves Saturn 100 times faster than assumed.

This new discovery is not only important for understanding the future of the Saturn system, but also helping to understand its past. The speed of "drifting", away from the planet, can be used to determine the age and place of formation of many satellites. In the case of Saturn, the entire system must grow faster than previously assumed. "This result brings a new important factor for the age of the Saturn system and how satellites are formed," said Dr. Valery Lainey of PSL University (France), who led the research. said so.

Titan is 1.2 million km from Saturn and is one of 82 satellites of Saturn. Until now, scientists have suggested that the furthest satellites leave more slowly; however, a few years ago the theory came that both inside and outer satellites left the planet at the same speed.

The research data is based on observations of NASA's Cassini probe, which has been studying Saturn for 13 years. The Cassini mission officially ended in September 2017, but the information collected by the ship is still in use today.