Saturn is losing its rings - Earth.com

Saturn is losing its rings

12-20-2018


Saturn is losing its rings Today’s Video of the Day from NASA Goddard describes how Saturn’s iconic rings are gradually disappearing.

Scientists have discovered that the rings are actually much younger than previously realized. They estimate that even though Saturn is more than four billion years old, the rings are only about 100 million years old.

The rings are mostly made up of ice that ranges in size from tiny microscopic grains to chunks that are several meters across.

According to a new study, gravity is steadily pulling these ice particles into the planet in the form of dust after they are charged by ultraviolet radiation and bound to the Earth’s magnetic field.

The study also revealed that the rings will not last more than another 300 million years.

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

Video Credit: NASA Goddard

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