Bombardment history of the Saturn system

Abstract

Analyzes crater distribution on Voyager images of Saturn's satellites and develops models of relative cratering rates on these bodies based on orbital dynamics. Observations concentrate on Rhea, the largest and best imaged of Saturn's airless moons. Our results are consistent with Mimas and larger moons being original aggregates and the smaller irregularly shaped bodies being collisional fragments. Results also constrain theories advocating recent formation of Saturn's rings for satellite disruption. -from Authors