NB Explains| Saturn's iconic rings are disappearing, find out the reason
Researchers have revealed that the rings of Saturn, which are made up of large chunks of ice are eroding, and we do not know how long they will stick around. The blocks of ice circling the planet are crashing into it leading to the thinning of the mysterious rings that have amazed astronomers.
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In a shocking development, the iconic rings of Saturn, which have fascinated astronomers for centuries, are in danger of disappearing. Scientists have been aware of the steady erosion of the gas giant's icy innermost rings since the 1980s. The rings are depleting at such a rapid rate that an Olympic-sized swimming pool of water cascades onto the planet's upper atmosphere every day.
Saturn
These rings are believed to be pieces of comets, asteroids, or shattered moons. (Photo: Nasa)
According to Nasa, Saturn's ring system extends up to 2,82,000 kilometers from the planet and is named alphabetically. The rings are relatively close to each other, with the exception of a gap measuring 4,700 kilometers in width called the Cassini Division that separates Rings A and B.
The system has a total of seven rings.
These rings are believed to be pieces of comets, asteroids, or shattered moons that broke up before they reached the planet as they were crushed by the planet's strong gravity. "The ring particles mostly range from tiny, dust-sized icy grains to chunks as big as a house. A few particles are as large as mountains," Nasa has said.
The reason
Researchers have revealed that the rings of Saturn, which are made up of large chunks of ice are eroding, and we do not know how long they will stick around. The blocks of ice circling the planet are crashing into it leading to the thinning of the mysterious rings that have amazed astronomers.
“We’re still trying to figure out exactly how fast they are eroding," Dr James O’Donoghue, who is leading the research into the Saturn's disappearing rings said in a statement.
While it is mostly believed that the rings have always been a part of Saturn, it's not correct. The rings of Saturn are just 100 million years old, which though seems like a long time on a cosmic scale is not that long. Scientists are now trying to figure out the future of these rings.
When will the rigns fully disappear
While research suggests that the rings could take another 100 million years to disappear completely, Dr. James O’Donoghue still calls it a "quick death." “Currently, research suggests the rings will only be part of Saturn for another few hundred million years. This may sound like a long time, but in the history of the universe, this is a relatively quick death. We could be very lucky to be around at a time when the rings exist," O’Donoghue added.
The team is trying to get their hands on the James Webb Space Telescope to delve deeper into the physics of the rings of Saturn and what really is triggering these chunks of ice to fall on the planet they orbit.