SPACE — The famous rings of the planet Saturn will likely disappear from view from Earth by 2025. This means they may no longer be visible in images of the planet produced by astronomers.
Saturn’s rings, the largest and brightest rings in the solar system, consist mostly of chunks of ice and some rock and dust. Saturn’s rings were first observed in 1610 by Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei.
However, if a telescope were pointed at Saturn in 2025, we wouldn’t be able to see the same image that Galilei saw when he glimpsed the impressive ring system. Because the rings surrounding this planet will disappear from view.
The American Space Agency (NASA) has previously spoken about the disappearance of Saturn’s rings much faster than expected.
Previously, it was believed that it would take around 300 million years for the rings to melt due to UV radiation from the Sun and other meteoroids colliding with the rings.
UV light and meteoroid impacts cause ice particles within Saturn’s rings to evaporate and form charged water molecules that interact with the rings.
Data collected by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft in 2017 revealed that it would take an estimated 100 million years for the rings to disappear.
But wait, 2025 isn’t the 100 million year year in question?
So, in 2025, Saturn’s rings will not disappear completely, but will temporarily disappear from view. Saturn’s rings can usually be seen from Earth even with a small telescope or even high-powered binoculars in good condition.
However, because Saturn continues to orbit around the Sun, in 2025 Saturn will be tilted in a certain direction so that its rings will not be visible.
According to IFL Science, the ’tilt angle’ will ‘drop to zero when it reaches March 23, 2025’. 2025 isn’t the only year Saturn’s rings will disappear from view. The next events after 2025 will occur on October 15, 2038, then April 1, and July 9, 2039.
So, don’t worry when you don’t see Saturn’s rings in the sky in 2025, this is not a sign that the planet’s rings will disappear completely. This is simply the phenomenon of a barrier so that Saturn’s rings are not visible. Saturn’s magnificent rings can be fully seen again in 2032.
2023-11-05 00:37:00
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