This is Daphnis, one of Saturn's moons. This image shows its unusual gravitational effect on Saturn's rings ...

Daphnis is only about 8 km wide, but its gravity disturbs Saturn's A ring, creating ripples and edge waves. It orbits within the Keeler Gap, a 42 km-wide gap in the rings. This image shows how even small moons can shape massive ring systems.

⬇️ It's a render from 2016 by Kevin Gill. Lots of discussions in the replies.

#Astronomy #Saturn

@Natasha_Jay

The shepherd moons of Saturn get stranger and stranger. Also, tidal locking implies that one could indeed stand on one without the scene spinning wildly. Just don't jump too hard.

https://www.britannica.com/place/Saturn-planet/Orbital-and-rotational-dynamics

Saturn - Rings, Moons, Dynamics | Britannica

Saturn - Rings, Moons, Dynamics: The orbital and rotational dynamics of Saturn’s moons have unusual and puzzling characteristics, some of which are related to their interactions with the rings. For example, the three small moons Janus, Epimetheus, and Pandora orbit near the outer edge of the main ring system and are thought to have been receiving angular momentum, amounting to a minuscule but steady outward push, from ring particles through collective gravitational interactions. The effects of this process would be to reduce the spreading of the rings caused by collisions between ring particles and to drive these moons to ever larger orbits. Because of the

Encyclopedia Britannica