Peculiar Rainbows in Saturn’s E Ring: Unraveling Luminous Stripes Near Enceladus

Scientists analyzing Cassini data discovered mysterious luminous stripes in Saturn’s E ring near Enceladus, resembling a natural diffraction pattern. These stripes, seen in multiple flybys, suggest an organized ice structure acting as a reflection grating. The bright band, made of crystalline ice with traces of CO₂, likely consists of fresh plume material. This finding hints at unexpected patterns in Saturn’s rings, potentially influenced by Enceladus’ plumes and magnetic interactions.