Saturn is one of the most differentiated panets in our solar system. It is because of the rings which surround it. It was found out that these rings are 98% ice and 2% rocks. These rings however are now in a danger. Saturn, the differentiated planet could soon loose its rings. Let’s discuss it in detail.
Saturn is said to loose its rings in about 100 years from now. The time might seem really big for us humans whose entire lifetime is not even 100 years but in the universe which has existed for over billions of years, this time amounts to mere seconds.
Saturn could soon loose its rings
First let’s get to know why the rings surround the planet Saturn:
The ring system has been formed because of a delicate balance between its gravity and the orbital velocity of the rings. Despite being continuously pulled inwards by the gravity of Saturn, the orbit’s velocity keeps them moving along in a set path around the planet.
There are certain rocks and boudlers present in the ring which when charged by the ultraviolet rays of the sun escape the ring. Slowly, year by year most of the rocks in the ring will escape and thus in a period of 100 years, the rings will get eliminated.
Astrophysicists have also found out that the rings on saturn are fairly new. By new they mean that they formed before even the existence of dinosaurs on Earth. As per them a big asteriod or a planet collided with Saturn and this resulted in so many small broken rocks. Thus, there must be a time when Jupiter and other planets too had rings. Isn’t the fact pretyy intriguing?
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