456-saturn-moon-orbit-diagram-dixon.jpg Diagram for Scientific American shows orbits of the many satellites of Saturn. A technical data visualization illustrates the complex orbital paths of Saturn's irregular moons against a black void. The orbits are color-coded, with green and red elliptical paths representing prograde and retrograde motions respectively, highlighting the gravitational capture of small outer satellites. Arrows along the orbital lines indicate the direction of travel around the central point representing the gas giant. Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com
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