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Astrogeology Research Program


Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Ring and Ring Gap Nomenclature

System Name Distance (km)
from planet's center
Radial Width (km)
Rings of Jupiter
1979 J1R ("Halo") 100,000 - 122,800 22,800
1979 J2R ("Main") 122,800 - 129,200 6,400
1979 J3R ("Gossamer") 129,200 - 214,200 85,000
Rings of Saturn

Divisions are the separations between named rings, and gaps are the spaces within named rings. In general, divisions are large, gaps are small.

D 67,000 - 74,490 7,500
C 74,490 - 91,980 17,500
Colombo Gap 77,800 100
Maxwell Gap 87,500 270
B 91,980 - 117,500 25,500
Cassini Division 117,500 - 122,050 4,700
Huygens Gap 117,680 285-440
A 122,050 - 136,770 14,600
Encke Gap 133,570 325
Keeler Gap 136,530 35
Roche Division 136,770-139,380 2600
F 140,224 30-500
G 166,000 - 174,000 8,000
E 180,000 - 480,000 300,000
Rings of Uranus
Zeta (1986 U2R) 39,600 3,500 (plus 5,000 km extension inwards)
6 41,840 1-3
5 42,230 2-3
4 42,580 2-3
Alpha 44,720 7-12
Beta 45,670 7-12
Eta 47,190 0-2
Gamma 47,630 1-4
Delta 48,290 3-9
Lambda (1986 U1R) 50,020 1-2
Epsilon 51,140 20-100
Nu (R/2003 U 2) 67,300 3,800
Mu (R/2003 U 1) 97,700 17,000
Rings and ring arcs of Neptune
1989 N3R Galle 41,900 15
1989 N2R Leverrier 53,200 15
Lassell 55,400 -
Arago 57,600 -
1989 N1R Adams 62,930 < 50
Liberte ("Leading" arc) 62,900 -
Egalite ("Equidistant" arc) 62,900 -
Fraternite ("Following" arc) 62,900 -
Courage (arc) 62,900 -

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