I just discovered a ringed world where the gap was so big, a moon as literally between the rings. Is this new or has someone seen this before? image
- Thread starter Fcsuper
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I love seeing the enthusiasm, and the attention to detail to notice something like this that many people would completely miss, so well done there!
While this isn't the first time this type of configuration, it is certainly not common.
While this isn't the first time this type of configuration, it is certainly not common.
You'll be wanting to read this thread - 14 pages of people recording and examining these so-called "shepherd moons".
As I understand it, rings form in ED when one of two things happen:
The first type of rings are, naturally, far more common. And only the second type of ring can generate a system where there are moons orbiting closer to the planet than the ring.
As I understand it, rings form in ED when one of two things happen:
- Stellar Forge creates moons that are too close to the planet. Forge algorithms then turn those moons into rings.
- The pseudo-history generated for the system has a rare cataclysmic event (cometary impact, passing black hole, etc) destroying a moon. Forge algorithms create a debris ring where the moon used to be.
The first type of rings are, naturally, far more common. And only the second type of ring can generate a system where there are moons orbiting closer to the planet than the ring.
I suspect you are not using Elite Observatory? Because I believe you must have had more encounters in those three years... I find Shepherd moons quite regularly, but only know about them thanks to elite Observatory...
I have to admit I didn't know that the second circumstance was a thing, and that it alone resulted in sheperd moons.