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The Planetary Report • September/October 1985
Saturn's Rings
On the Cover: Photographing Saturn's rings is only one way to study them. This image was generated by a computer using data gathered by <i>Voyager 2</i>'s photopolarimeter while the rings occulted the star Delta Scorpii on August 25, 1981. The rings appear brightest where they are most opaque. The insert shows the F-ring with a resolution of one kilometer. This experiment, and the radio occultation experiment (pages 4–7), revealed details of the rings invisible to the spacecraft's cameras.
Features
4 Taking the Measure of Saturn's Rings: Len Tyler and Dick Simpson explains how we're beginning to understand planetary ring systems thanks to Voyager's encounters with Saturn.
10 Twenty-five Years of Searching: SETI Scientists Celebrate an Anniversary: Woodruff T. Sullivan, III looks back on the history of the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence.
Departments
3 Q&A What are Syrtis Major and the other dark markings on Mars?
13 World Watch The Planetary Society's political advocacy efforts.
14 News & Reviews Echoes from a dead comet?
15 Society Notes "Steps to Mars" a success; dedicated volunteers help SETI.
The Planetary Report • September/October 1985
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