Hours of research by our editors, distilled into minutes of clarity.
Every 13 to 16 years, Saturn's rings become far less visible because its plane becomes exactly even with Earth's. This visual-rich essay explores the history of humanity's perception of Saturn, from Galileo's first sighting (and dubbing the rings "ears") to the idea that the rings won't last more than a few hundred millions years more. Explore this fascinating planet here.
The "jewel" of our solar system didn't always have its striking rings. Millions of years ago, a likely icy moon orbited Saturn just a little too closely, reaching the planet's so-called Roche limit, the boundary where the planet's gravity pulls a satellite apart. An estimated 17,000 trillion tons of ice likely exploded into Saturn's orbit over just a few days, suddenly creating what today is clearly seen as the planet's stunning rings. Watch this dramatic animated visualization showing how the process might have looked millions of years ago.
The second largest planet in our solar system, adorned with thousands of beautiful ringlets, Saturn is unique among the planets.
You've reached the end