New Vision of the Saturnian System in the Context of a Highly Dissipative Saturn

This book collects a set of contributions that reflect the profound transformation in our understanding of Saturn and its system of rings and moons. Once considered a relatively stable and slowly evolving system, it is now recognized as highly dynamic, shaped by unexpectedly strong tidal dissipation within the planet. This has major implications for the orbital evolution of its satellites, suggesting rapid outward migration and challenging long-standing views on the age and origin of both moons and rings. Central to these advances is the wealth of data returned by the Cassini mission, whose long-term observations, combined with significant progress in theoretical modeling, have reshaped our picture of the coupled evolution of Saturn, its interior, its rings, and its satellites. Bringing together leading experts across planetary science, this volume presents a coherent and interdisciplinary synthesis of these developments. The contributions explore the dynamical history of the Saturnian system, the processes governing tidal dissipation, and the complex interactions between rings, moons, and planetary interiors. By highlighting both recent breakthroughs and remaining open questions, the book offers a new vision of Saturn as a laboratory for understanding planetary systems. It provides essential insights not only into the evolution of giant planets and their satellites, but also into broader processes shaping planetary systems throughout the Solar System and beyond. Reprinted from Space Science Reviews , New Vision of the Saturnian System in the Context of a Highly Dissipative Saturn, Vol. 219-222, 2023-2026.