The narrow ring shepherded by Pandora and Prometheus is Saturn’s F ring. It lies just outside the planet’s main A ring and is one of the most structurally complex rings in the Solar System.
Pandora orbits outside the F ring, while Prometheus orbits inside it. Their gravity helps keep the ring’s particles confined, although their interactions can also produce strands, kinks, and braided features. Images from the Voyager missions revealed much of this intricate structure.
The F ring is not the broadest or brightest Saturnian ring; the A and B rings are much more prominent in ordinary telescope views. Its importance comes from its dynamic behavior and from the clear example it provides of shepherd moons shaping ring material. The ring’s appearance can change over time because its particles continually respond to the moons’ gravity.