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Saturns Rings Changing

  1. Sep 6, 2005 #1

    Cladson

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    http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/S/SATURN_RINGS?SITE=TNNAT&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT [Broken]
     
    Last edited by a moderator: May 2, 2017
    Cladson, Sep 6, 2005
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  3. Sep 6, 2005 #2

    vincentm

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    Isn't there a theory about the material that makeup those rigs, eventually crashing into Saturn's atmoshpere or floating off?
     
    vincentm, Sep 6, 2005
  4. Sep 6, 2005 #3

    Garth

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    The problem would be if the rings didn't change, but over what timescale? 25years is a fleabite in the planet's history.

    Garth
     
    Garth, Sep 6, 2005
  5. Sep 7, 2005 #4

    chroot

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    Most theories of ring formation involve a moon being broken up by tidal forces. The resulting debris eventually makes its way back to the parent planet; most theories predict about a 50,000 year lifespan. In that respect, we're lucky to live at a time when Saturn is so resplendent.

    - Warren
     
    chroot, Sep 7, 2005
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