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/sci/ - Science & Math

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File: 61 KB, 1024x579, Iapetus_equatorial_ridge.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6153324 No.6153324 [Reply] [Original]

Any ideas as to how Iapetus got its equatorial ridge?

Is it merely a process of gravity, forcing the mass to rise?

Or aliens?

>> No.6153328

>>6153324
it was probably two bodies that impacted and created a unified moon long time ago. the ridge is the artifact of the collision.

>> No.6153331

It's circumference probably does not meet the minimum distance in which an object suspended in space would become spherical due to gravity.

>> No.6153420

>>6153324
>Iapetus
that is a seriously weird moon. god only knows.

>> No.6153429

>2001
>not knowing it was the Monolith

Dave, pls.

>> No.6153474
File: 15 KB, 772x285, Iapetus_orbit_(side).jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6153474

>>6153331

I'm so confused. Iapetus is really round for such a small moon aside from the ridge. Is the ridge the last part that needs "flattening out"?

Everything about Iapetus is strange. Surely natural in explanation, but still strange.

>> No.6153485

>>6153331
Leptus is larger than the dwarf planet Ceres. Both are quite able to hold themselves in a sphere. Quit talking out of your ass.

OP there are two main theories as to how Leptus got its equatorial ridge: 1. It is a remnant of a time when Leptus rotated much faster around its axis, slowed by time by Saturn's gravity.
2. It is the remnant of a collapsed ring of debris around the moon.
http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Iapetus

>> No.6153503

>>6153485

Thanks for the answer anon.

>> No.6153518
File: 718 KB, 245x200, damn.gif [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6153518

>> No.6153577

I just got done with reading 2001 for the first time (Slowpoke, I know) and it got me interested in Clarke's take on Iapetus.

http://www.enterprisemission.com/moon1.htm

...My searching then led me to this nutty conspiracy theorist page. It's seemingly 110% bullshit but a fun read if you don't take it seriously.

And yes, naturally every explanation is aliens. Don't you even THINK about natural formations, NASA shill!

>> No.6154100
File: 47 KB, 500x652, aliens.gif [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6154100

>>6153474

>that orbit
>that bizarre ridge
>that yin yang colouring

Iapetus confirmed for aliens.

>> No.6154133
File: 1019 KB, 500x266, 3CQr11rhxe2eo1_500.gif [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6154133

>>6153518
I love Strax. He's such a lunatic.

>> No.6154138

>>6153324
Guess you didn't spot the remnants of the crater that covers 30% of the northern hemisphere that was believed to be a slow impact not smashing it to bits while generating enough energy to heat up the core forcing the outer ridge.

>> No.6154251

>>6153324
>gravity, forcing the mass to rise
WAT

>> No.6154257

>>6154251

I had no idea what the technical term is, but I meant as it spins it flattens at the poles and the material at the equator rises.

But apparently that's totally wrong regardless.

>> No.6154266
File: 17 KB, 480x315, img_1689_aliens-among-us-real-alien-evidence-from-reuters-wikileaks-mi6-and-more.jpg [View same] [iqdb] [saucenao] [google]
6154266

>>6153324

I'm going with aliens.

>> No.6154284

>>6154138

I totally missed this comment, thanks for the answer, never knew that.

>> No.6154287

>>6154284
Very welcome. Any other anomaly you have a question about?

>> No.6154297

>>6154287

Well I was curious regarding the contrast in colour on Iapetus but from what I've read it seems to be due to Phoebe's rings spilling material onto it.

Unless that has to do with the northern impact as well? And I assume the impact is responsible for the irregular orbit?

>> No.6154324

>>6154297
The current leading theory on iapetuses coloring is the sublimation of frozen gasses on its surface. Iapetus is tidally locked, the dark side is the side that faces the sun when it is on the day side of Saturn.

>> No.6154369

>>6154297
The irregular orbit is due to the irregular (miniscule as it may be) magnetic field wavering 3% as the wobble is 4.5% (estimated). Closest to Saturn the magnetic pull is centered through the moon. As it circles it begins it's lean tilting the magnetic angle by as much as 3% releasing just enough draw toward Saturn to give it the irregular orbit.