INDOZONE.ID – Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in our solar system after Jupiter. This planet is characterized by a ring that surrounds it. This planet is not the only planet to have rings, but none are as spectacular or complex as Saturn.
We’re running out of time to see Saturn’s rings, with only 18 months left before they disappear from view.
NASA has confirmed that stargazers have until 2025 to see the iconic structure before Saturn tilts towards Earth, turning the massive rings into barely visible lines.
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Saturn’s rings are enormous structures, stretching 43,500 to 87,000 miles (70,000 to 140,000 km). But in comparison, they are almost paper-thin, only 30 feet (10 m) high at the main circumference, making them disappear when viewed from the side.
However, the rings will not be gone forever, and will tilt back towards Earth in the next phase of Saturn’s 29-year orbit.
Saturn’s rings will disappear. (NASA doc)
Due to the tilt of its orbit, Saturn wobbles slightly and moves away from the sun throughout its orbital period. This means that for a short time every 13.7 to 15.7 years, Earth can see the planet perfectly from the side.
At a distance of 746 million miles (1.2 billion km), this makes the rings appear to disappear from our perspective.
Currently, Saturn’s rings are tilted downward towards Earth at an angle of 9 degrees and by 2024 that angle will have reduced to just 3.7 degrees.
The last time this rare astronomical event occurred was in September 2009, and it hasn’t happened since February 1996. Astronomers won’t get the chance to see Saturn from this unique vantage point again until October 2038.
Earth passing through position edge-on-view may make Saturn’s rings invisible, but astronomers say this will be a good time to observe the planet’s 156 moons.
After passing the position edge-on-view, Saturn’s rings will soon become visible again when the planet’s South Pole tilts towards Earth. This would make the bottom of the rings look like Earth, a sight that hasn’t been seen for more than a decade and a half.
The rings will become increasingly visible until 2032 when Saturn reaches its maximum tilt away from Earth.
2023-11-09 03:47:00
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