In the latest batch of images from the Cassini probe investigating Saturn, one of them shows, quite distinctly, a small object piercing the F ring of debris that surrounds Saturn. There's a picture of the bifurcated ring to the left there; click it for a larger image. It looks very much as if something small has cut a path through the dust in Saturn's F ring, moving through the ring from below, and leaving a trail of dust particles in its wake.

The image in question is one of a number of spectacular images sent back as part of the data haul from Cassini's Saturn Equinox mission. Other discoveries have included spotting a tiny moonlet in the dense dust of Saturn's B ring; the moon was discovered by virtue of its shadow, an event that is itself tied to the Saturn's August 11 equinox. Images have also revealed narrow but distinctly vertical structures in Saturn's F ring.

Because of the position of the sun—directly overhead at noon, from Saturn's perspective—and the fact that we're seeing the rings edge-on, far more detailed images are possible than usual, including very distinct shadows cast by otherwise unseen objects. These include not only the mysterious object cutting a swathe through the relatively narrow F ring, above, but two other vertical structures within the F ring objects. One of the vertical objects can be seen extending outward from the core of the F right, and a third casting a shadow that extend past the Roche division between the rings, and appearing on the A ring.

The easiest to understand discussions of these new images are from Phil Plait here and here. The official press release from NASA is here.