Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Neveu M
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6662725 | biostudies-literature | 2019
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
The orbits of Saturn's inner mid-sized moons (Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea) have been notably difficult to reconcile with their geology. Here, we present numerical simulations coupling thermal, geophysical, and simplified orbital evolution for 4.5 billion years that reproduce observed characteristics of their orbits and interiors, provided that the outer four moons are old. Tidal dissipation within Saturn expands the moons' orbits over time. Dissipation within the moons decreases th ...[more]