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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?
Saturn's Rings Appearance from Saturn?
Click For Summary
Discussion Overview
The discussion revolves around the appearance of Saturn's rings from the perspective of an observer on or near the planet. Participants explore whether the rings would be visible, how their visibility might be affected by factors such as brightness of the sky, and the implications of being in orbit around Saturn.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory
- Debate/contested
- Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- One participant questions what the rings would look like from Saturn, considering visibility issues such as being "edge on" or the brightness of the sky.
- Another participant points out the impracticality of standing on Saturn due to its composition and gravity, suggesting that one would fall and be crushed.
- A participant clarifies that they did not imply standing on Saturn, but rather inquiring about the view of the rings from the planet.
- It is suggested that to observe the rings, one would need to be in orbit around Saturn, and the view would depend on the observer's latitude.
- Several links to images and resources are shared to illustrate the appearance of the rings from different perspectives.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants do not reach a consensus on the visibility of the rings from Saturn, and there are competing views regarding the implications of being on or near the planet.
Contextual Notes
There are limitations regarding the assumptions made about the observer's position and the effects of Saturn's atmosphere and brightness on visibility.
- #2
unusually_wrong
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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.
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I didn't say I was "standing" anywhere.
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berkeman
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Well, that's an uplifting thought for a Friday!unusually_wrong said:
With a quick Google Images search, I found this:
https://www.vox.com/science-and-hea... spacecraft -dives-saturn-rings-google-doodle
The Cassini spacecraft ’s dive in between Saturn’s rings, explained
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Vanadium 50
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Dearly Missed
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Yeah, but it's Vox. If the Voxplainers told me my mother loved me, I would want to check it out.
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davenn
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gmax137 said:
no, not "standing"
but you said …
gmax137 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
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berkeman
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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
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