A new image from the Cassini spacecraft from Nasa show that two of the moons of Saturn, Anthe and Methone have partial rings that extend before and after them. 

 

The partial rings called Ring Arcs somewhat mysteriously precede and trail behind the moons.  The moons stay within the arc and do not orbit Saturn, but rather move back in forth due to a gravitational disturbance of the nearby larger moon.  

 

This is sort of like having an object in between two larger magnets which causes the object to bounce back and forth.  The rings are believed to be formed from an endless supply of particles coming off the moons.

 

Just thought it was interesting as it is something you don’t see every day…

 

[via MSNBC]