Celestia Forums

Good morning to all of you.

When I orbit Saturn and come to the shadowside of this planet then the rings become dark over the whole circumference. It seems to me that the rings has to stay as bright as if you are looking to the sunnyside of this planet. Only that part of the rings wich are in the shadow of Saturn should be dark.

HB wrote:It seems to me that the rings has to stay as bright as if you are looking to the sunnyside of this planet. Only that part of the rings wich are in the shadow of Saturn should be dark.

But why would that be? Each little ring particle is like a tiny planet, and each one is showing you its dark side.

Grant

Hm, is that so. Maybe you're right if you're looking to the rings at an equatorial position of Saturn. But if you are at the shadow side of Saturn and take a look to the rings let's say, under a angle of 30 degree, those rings has become more bright than Saturn itself. It seems to me that those rocky and icy particles has a reflection as well which will emphasize the brightness a little bit.

HB wrote:Hm, is that so. Maybe you're right if you're looking to the rings at an equatorial position of Saturn. But if you are at the shadow side of Saturn and take a look to the rings let's say, under a angle of 30 degree, those rings has become more bright than Saturn itself. It seems to me that those rocky and icy particles has a reflection as well which will emphasize the brightness a little bit.

Why don't you draw a few rocks within the ring on a piece of paper and try to connect rays from the sun with your 'observer' eye such that they /touch/ the rocks with the constraint:

angle of incidence = angle of reflection...

It's gona be hard for your presumed position...

Bye Fridger