Saturn's ring system is made up of thousands of rings all held together by gravity. The ring system is organised into a number of features.
RINGS OF SATURN
The rings are labled in the order that they were discovered. Not all the rings are visible in the photo. Between the A and B rings is a clear region known as the Cassini Division probably produced by gravitational forces. Within the A ring is another small division called the Encke Division in which the moon Pan orbits. It would appear that as Pan orbits around Saturn it clears away the ring material near it and creates an empty area.
The A and B rings are the most obvious and are easily seen even through a modest telescope from Earth. They are composed of pieces of rock and ice.
Inside of the B ring is the semi-transparent C ring once known as the Crepe Ring. Close up photos show it to be made up of many small ringlets.
Closer still to Saturn is the almost invisible D ring which can only be seen in specially enhanced photos.
First of the outer rings is the F ring. Unlike the other rings it is more like a string than a sheet. It is unlikely that it would survive if it were not for the moons Promethius and Pandora which orbit either side of the ring and hold it together by their gravity. Such moons are called shepherd moons.
Next is the G ring, very faint and like the D ring can only be seen close up in specially enhanced photos.
Finally is the E ring extending from about 180,000km from Saturn to about 480,000km. The brightness peaks at the orbit of Enceladus 235,000km from Saturn, suggesting that the moon may be the source of the ring material. The particles composing the ring appear to be micron sized and distinctly blue in colour.
Links to pictures of the rings of Saturn (active internet connection required)
