Electronic Telegram No. 668
Central Bureau for Astronomical Telegrams
INTERNATIONAL ASTRONOMICAL UNION
M.S. 18, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138, U.S.A.
IAUSUBS@CFA.HARVARD.EDU or FAX 617-495-7231 (subscriptions)
CBAT@CFA.HARVARD.EDU (science)
URL http://cfa-www.harvard.edu/iau/cbat.html


NEW RINGS OF SATURN
     C. C. Porco, CICLOPS, Space Science Institute, Boulder; and the
Cassini Imaging Science Team report the sighting of several new rings
around Saturn.  One new diffuse ring, R/2006 S 1, has been found at an
orbital distance of about 151500 km, coincident with the co-orbital
satellites, Saturn X (Janus) and XI (Epimetheus) with a radial width of
about 5000 km.  Another new diffuse ring, R/2006 S 2, has been found
coincident with the tiny moon Saturn XXXIII (Pallene; IAUC 8389), at an
orbital distance of about 212000 km and radial width of about 2500 km.
Two other newly sighted rings have been seen within the Cassini division.
R/2006 S 3 is located in the outer gap of the Cassini division at an
orbital distance of 119930 km, with a radial width of about 50 km.
Finally, a very narrow, discontinuous, and tenuous ringlet, R/2006 S 4,
has been seen in between two broad bands in the Cassini division, at an
orbital distance of 118960 km; its width is about 6 km.  R/2006 S 3
appears to have substantial numbers of small particles as it brightens
considerably at high-phase-viewing geometries.


NOTE: These 'Central Bureau Electronic Telegrams' are sometimes
      superseded by text appearing later in the printed IAU Circulars.

                         (C) Copyright 2006 CBAT
2006 October 11                  (CBET 668)               Daniel W. E. Green