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Saturn’s rings are disappearing and could be gone relatively soon
Saturn’s rings are disappearing and could be gone relatively soon
Saturn’s rings might disappear pretty soon astronomically speaking, according to new research. A new analysis of data captured by NASA’s Cassini mission, which orbited the planet between 2004 and 2017, has revealed new insights into when the seven rings were formed and how long they might last. During Cassini’s Grand Finale, when the spacecraft completed 22 orbits in which it passed between Saturn and its rings, the researchers observed that the rings were losing many tons of mass per second, which means the rings will only be around another few hundred million years at most. “We have shown that massive rings like Saturn’s do not last long,” said Paul Estrada, research scientist at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Mountain View, California, and a coauthor of the studies, in a statement. “One can speculate that the relatively puny rings around the other ice and gas giants in our solar system are leftover remnants of rings that were once massive like Saturn’s. Maybe some time in the not-so-distant future, astronomically speaking, after Saturn’s rings are ground down, they will look more like the sparse rings of Uranus.” Sign up to our free Indy100 weekly newsletter Saturn’s rings are made mostly of ice but have a small amount of rocky dust created by broken asteroid fragments and micrometeoroids colliding with the rings. The research also found that the rings appeared long after Saturn’s initial formation, and were still forming when dinosaurs roamed the Earth. “Our inescapable conclusion is that Saturn’s rings must be relatively young by astronomical standards, just a few hundred million years old,” said Richard Durisen, professor emeritus of astronomy at Indiana University Bloomington and lead author of the studies in a statement. “If you look at Saturn’s satellite system, there are other hints that something dramatic happened there in the last few hundred million years. If Saturn’s rings are not as old as the planet, that means something happened in order to form their incredible structure, and that is very exciting to study.” Have your say in our news democracy. Click the upvote icon at the top of the page to help raise this article through the indy100 rankings.
2023-05-26 00:24
'Not with that attire': 'RHONJ' star Melissa Gorga trolled as she hits golf course in cropped tank top, cargo pants and heels
'Not with that attire': 'RHONJ' star Melissa Gorga trolled as she hits golf course in cropped tank top, cargo pants and heels
Melissa Gorga's return to 'RHONJ' brings joy, but her golf attire receives online mockery amid ongoing tensions with Teresa Giudice
2023-07-13 13:55
AI political fakery sparks fears for US 2024 race
AI political fakery sparks fears for US 2024 race
A fake image of Donald Trump's arrest. A dystopian video of a dark future in the event of Joe Biden's reelection. An audio deepfake of both men slinging insults. Fast-evolving AI technology could turbocharge...
2023-05-29 09:26
'Could happen to any of us': Students mourn Desiree Rivas, 17 who was fatally shot after leaving party in West Valley
'Could happen to any of us': Students mourn Desiree Rivas, 17 who was fatally shot after leaving party in West Valley
Desiree Rivas was outside a home near 91st Avenue and Lower Buckeye Road when she was shot and killed
2023-05-18 10:18
The Bidens are getting an early start on the Thanksgiving week by having dinner with service members
The Bidens are getting an early start on the Thanksgiving week by having dinner with service members
President Joe Biden is set to visit naval installations in Virginia for an early kickoff to the Thanksgiving holiday week
2023-11-20 01:22
Dixie and Charli D'Amelio: 5 important business lessons to learn from TikTok stars and sisters
Dixie and Charli D'Amelio: 5 important business lessons to learn from TikTok stars and sisters
5 business lessons that you can learn from famous D'Amelio Sisters, keep reading to know more
2023-06-04 13:56
US ups ante in Pacific but foregoes historic moment
US ups ante in Pacific but foregoes historic moment
Joe Biden had planned a landmark visit to Papua New Guinea, amid growing Chinese influence in the region.
2023-05-22 14:26
Nikki Haley says she views China 'as an enemy' in pointed rebuke
Nikki Haley says she views China 'as an enemy' in pointed rebuke
Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and 2024 Republican presidential contender, said Sunday that she views China "as an enemy" in a potential preview of the hardline approach she would take if elected president.
2023-09-10 23:52
State Department failed to plan or respond fast enough in Afghanistan collapse, new US report finds
State Department failed to plan or respond fast enough in Afghanistan collapse, new US report finds
A State Department report says the department failed to do enough contingency planning before the collapse of the U.S.-backed government in Afghanistan
2023-07-01 03:29
Chris Rhodes: Tina Turner's ex-crew member breaks down on live TV, says singer was 'biggest gift of life'
Chris Rhodes: Tina Turner's ex-crew member breaks down on live TV, says singer was 'biggest gift of life'
Chris Rhodes worked on more than 105 concert dates with Tina Turner on her Private Dancer Tour in 1985
2023-05-25 10:56
Who is Thomas Ribby? Elderly Missouri man, 70, arrested after he fatally shot his teen grandson
Who is Thomas Ribby? Elderly Missouri man, 70, arrested after he fatally shot his teen grandson
Thomas Ribby told investigators that he did not know that the gun was loaded, but the family said that it does not explain why the gun was aimed at his grandson
2023-09-24 16:58
Norway’s Economy Shrinks for First Time in Four Months
Norway’s Economy Shrinks for First Time in Four Months
Norway’s economy shrank in August for the first time in four months, largely in line with the central
2023-10-09 16:48