Saturn’s iconic ringsone of the most awe-inspiring sights in our solar system, will temporarily disappear in 2025, according to a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy. This is not the first time that Saturn’s rings have disappeared from view. In fact, they disappear every 15 years or so, when Saturn’s tilt reaches its maximum.
In 1610, Galileo Galilei became the first person to observe Saturn’s rings through a telescope. Scientists believe that all seven individual rings are made up of bits of comets, asteroids, and shattered moons that strayed too close to Saturn’s powerful gravity and were torn to shreds. The rings stretch out 175,000 miles from the planet (in total, they cover an area equivalent to 30 Earths).
But every 15 years, Saturn’s axis tilts so far that its rings become nearly invisible from Earth.
Why Saturn’s rings disappear?
This is a mere optical illusion. The rings are very thin, averaging just 30 feet thick. When Saturn’s axis is tilted, the rings are viewed edge-on, making them difficult to see. NASA has confirmed that Saturn’s rings will be invisible from Earth in 2025 due to the planet’s tilt. This is a rare event that happens every 13.7 to 15.7 years.
Image: NASA
Saturn is not perfectly aligned with Earth but tilted at an angle of about 9 degrees. This means that we see the rings from different angles throughout Saturn’s orbit. In 2025, Saturn’s tilt will decrease to about 3.7 degrees, which means that the rings will be edge-on to Earth and will appear to disappear.
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When will the rings be visible again?
After Saturn reaches its maximum tilt in 2025, the rings will begin to tilt back towards Earth. They will become increasingly visible again until 2032 when they reach their maximum tilt towards Earth.
How is it significant for astronomers?
The disappearance of Saturn’s rings in 2025 will give astronomers a unique opportunity to study the planet’s atmosphere and other features normally obscured by the rings. Another added benefit of the planet being less tilted is that this phenomenon makes it easier to see Saturn’s moons.
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