SP-345 Evolution of the Solar
System
FIGURE 11.2.1.&emdash;The inner region
of the Saturnian satellite system (below). The small, filled circles
(almost points) show the regions within which the gravitational
fields of Mimas and Enceladus predominate. The regions of
gravitational dominance of the terrestrial planets are shown above.
The figure illustrates that gravitational collapse is not a
reasonable mechanism for the formation of these bodies because of the
minimal extension of their gravitational fields. The same conclusion
holds for all satellites and planets, with the possible exception of
Jupiter.
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