Naked Science Forum

Non Life Sciences => Physics, Astronomy & Cosmology => Topic started by: thedoc on 12/12/2010 22:17:20

Title: How did Saturn come by its rings?
Post by: thedoc on 12/12/2010 22:17:20

Saturn’s rings may have originated from a satellite that was stripped of its surface ice when it moved perilously close to the planet.

Read the whole story on our  website by clicking here (http://www.thenakedscientists.com/HTML/content/news/news/2123/)

  

Title: How did Saturn come by its rings?
Post by: CliffordK on 13/12/2010 03:04:04

Interesting...

I thought I had read about a "cosmic collision" theory too, as well as theory of accretion of material potentially dating back to the formation of Saturn and the solar system. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Saturn#Formation

The "tidal" theory would be unlikely to explain the apparent ring-like material extending far beyond the planet and the recently discovered Phoebe ring.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Saturn#Phoebe_ring

Title: How did Saturn come by its rings?
Post by: Geezer on 13/12/2010 03:38:48

There is a new theory that they were created when one of Saturn's previous moons went into a "death spiral" that ripped all the ice off the moon. At that time, there was a ring of hydrogen around Saturn that trapped the moon in Saturn's gravity.

Title: How did Saturn come by its rings?
Post by: chris on 13/12/2010 09:03:05

Hi Geezer - maybe read the link at the top...

Title: How did Saturn come by its rings?
Post by: Geezer on 13/12/2010 18:12:27

Quote from: chris on 13/12/2010 09:03:05

Hi Geezer - maybe read the link at the top...

They don't call me "Master of the Obvious" for nothing you know.