- #1
- 2,788
- 2,899
What do the rings look like from an observer on the planet? Are they visible, or too "edge on" to see? Or maybe the sky is too bright?
Well, that's an uplifting thought for a Friday!unusually_wrong said:Technically, you could not stand on Saturn because of it's composition. You would fall until you were crushed by the gravity. You'd probably burn up too.
gmax137 said:I didn't say I was "standing" anywhere.
gmax137 said:What do the rings look like from an observer on the planet?
Wow, beauty. Thanks Dave. [emoji1]davenn said:no, not "standing"
but you said …which implied the same thing
you would have to be in orbit around Saturn ( an orbit inside that of the ring system)
and the view you would get would depend on your latitude
there are images on the www ……. let's look ……
https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/160/beyond-curved-rings/?category=planets_saturn
View attachment 228527https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/164/light-and-dark-tricks/?category=planets_saturnhttps://solarsystem.nasa.gov/resources/180/obscured-by-rings/?category=planets_saturnDave
Saturn's rings are made up of billions of individual ice particles ranging in size from tiny grains to large boulders. The exact composition of the rings is still being studied, but they are primarily made of water ice with some rocky material mixed in.
The origin of Saturn's rings is still a topic of debate among scientists. One theory suggests that they were formed from the debris of a moon that was torn apart by Saturn's gravity. Another theory suggests that they are remnants of material left over from the formation of Saturn and its moons.
Saturn's rings have gaps due to the gravitational pull of its moons. Some moons, known as shepherd moons, orbit within the rings and their gravity creates gaps by pushing and pulling the particles in the rings.
The rings of Saturn can greatly affect its appearance from Earth. Depending on their tilt, the rings can either appear as a thin line or a broad disk. The rings can also block some of the light from the planet, making it appear dimmer or brighter to us on Earth.
It is estimated that Saturn's rings may only have a lifespan of a few hundred million years. This is due to the constant bombardment of micrometeoroids and the gravitational pull of Saturn's moons, which can cause the rings to dissipate over time.