We Finally Know Why Phoebe Orbits Backwards

Out in the far reaches of Saturn’s orbit lies a moon that doesn’t belong. This is Phoebe: a dark, rebel object racing against the calm flow of the Saturnian system. Join us to find out how this unlikely moon could unlock the secrets of Saturn’s violent past, and perhaps the origin of the rings themselves. ▀▀▀▀▀▀ 0:00 Discovery of Phoebe 3:51 Phoebe’s Retrograde Orbit 5:47 What Cassini Saw 10:00 “Planetary Embryo” 11:22 The Phoebe Ring 14:10 How Did Phoebe Get Here? ▀▀▀▀▀▀ A huge thanks to our Patreons who help make these videos possible. Sign-up here to support the channel: https://bit.ly/4aiJZNF ▀▀▀▀▀▀ To stay on top of space news, sign up to the Astrum newsletter: https://astrumspace.kit.com Astrum Displate Posters: https://displate.com/astrumspace?art=5f04759ac338b Astrum Merch: https://astrum-shop.fourthwall.com/ Join us on the Astrum discord: https://discord.gg/TKw8Hpvtv8 ▀▀▀▀▀▀ Astrum Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/6jPRrbq3o3dpvBb173ZTKi?si=a90d3efe3b704c83 Astrum Earth: https://youtube.com/@astrumearth Astrum Extra: https://www.youtube.com/@astrumextra Astrum Spanish: https://www.youtube.com/@astrumespanol Astrum Portuguese: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UChn_-OwvV63mr1yeUGvH-BQ ▀▀▀▀▀▀ References: “Phoebe: NASA Science”, via science.nasa.gov https://astrumspace.info/nasaphoebe “Saturn's Moon Phoebe as a Captured Body from the Outer Solar System”, via nature.com https://astrumspace.info/phoebeorigin “William Henry Pickering, Discoverer of Phoebe and Expert Observer”, via britastro.org https://astrumspace.info/pickering “All About Phoebe”, via esa.int https://astrumspace.info/esaphoebe “The Two Faces of Phoebe”, via planetary.org https://astrumspace.info/phoebefaces “Cassini Makes Close Observations of Phoebe”, via jpl.nasa.gov https://astrumspace.info/cassiniphoebe “Phoebe’s Differentiated Interior from Refined Shape Analysis”, via aanda.org https://astrumspace.info/phoebeinterior “Phoebe's Surface Reveals Clues to Its Origin”, via jpl.nasa.gov https://astrumspace.info/phoebesurface “Cassini’s Initial Observations of Phoebe”, via ciclops.org https://astrumspace.info/ciclopsphoebe “Saturn’s Largest Ring”, via nature.com https://astrumspace.info/saturnring ▀▀▀▀▀▀ Credits: Writer: Jess Jordan Video Editor: Nick Shishkin Researcher: Shourya Shrivastava Script Editor: Damaris McColgan Thumbnail Designer: Peter Sheppard Publishing Lead: Georgina Brenner Production Manager: Raquel Taylor Edit Producer: Poppy Pinnock Head of Astrum: Jess Jordan Creator of Astrum: Alex McColgan With special thanks to: NASA/ESO/ESA #Astrum #Space #Phoebe #Moon