The Stunning Rings of Saturn May Have Formed in an Unexpected Way
Unlike the thin rings filled with dust and rocky debris that float around Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, the ring system surrounding Saturn is incredibly impressive and is considered a symbol when referencing this planet.
Saturn has very distinct and characteristic rings. (Image: Getty).
However, the truth behind this ring system is something that not everyone could have imagined. It even raises concerns for some, as it could potentially happen to Earth.
According to new research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), this beautiful phenomenon may be the result of a catastrophic collision between Saturn and Chrysalis – a hypothetical moon of Saturn.
This conclusion was reached after the team conducted hundreds of simulations, each with different initial conditions.
In the proposed scenario, around 160 million years ago, the orbit of Chrysalis became unstable, causing its rotation to drift closer to its host planet.
Here, Saturn’s gravitational pull drew its natural satellite in, ultimately leading to a catastrophic collision.
However, not everything from Chrysalis was lost. Scientists believe that much of its material is still lingering around the orbit and has gradually formed the planet’s rings.
Not everything from Chrysalis was lost; its material has gradually formed the planet’s rings.
This violent encounter may also have pushed Saturn out of its original resonance, reducing its axial tilt and leading to the current resonances with Neptune.
According to Jack Wisdom, an astronomer at MIT and the lead author of the study, this scenario was proposed because it explains in detail all the unusual characteristics of Saturn, such as its axial tilt, rotational orbit, and even the rings of the “gas giant.”
“We propose that Saturn once had a satellite, provisionally called Chrysalis. This system was stable for a long time. However, over time, its satellite escaped Saturn’s resonance, leading to a violent collision that shattered it and created the rings we see today,” Wisdom summarized.
“That is a hypothesis we believe in,” Wisdom stated, “but like any other outcome, it will need to be assessed for feasibility.”
This proposed hypothesis may send shivers down the spine of many when relating to Earth and the Moon. However, in reality, the Moon is drifting away from Earth at an average rate of 4 cm each year.
The research by Jack Wisdom and colleagues was published in the journal Science.
