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Movie of Saturn Ring Spokes

This Hubble Space Telescope time-lapse series of Saturn images (taken on October 22, 2023) resolves a phenomenon called ring spokes appearing on both sides of the planet simultaneously as they spin around the giant world. The video zooms into one set of spokes on the morning (left) side of the rings. The spokes are transient features that rotate along the ring plane. The spokes may be a product of electrostatic forces generated by the interaction of the planet's magnetic field with the solar wind. This interaction levitates dust or ice above the ring to form the spokes.

  • Release Date
    December 21, 2023
  • Science Release
    NASA’s Hubble Watches ‘Spoke Season’ on Saturn
  • Credits
    NASA, ESA, STScI, Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC)

Downloads

  • 1920 × 1080, 30 FPS
    mp4 (900.25 KB)
  • 1280 × 720, 30 FPS
    mp4 (517.59 KB)

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Details

Last Updated
Mar 10, 2025
Contact
Media

Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov

Science Credit

Amy Simon (NASA-GSFC)

Animation Credit

Joseph DePasquale (STScI)