The planet’s hoops may have materialized more than 100 million years after trilobites — mysterious, extinct invertebrates — appeared on Earth.
Saturn’s rings might have formed while trilobites scuttled about on Earth. Space dust has been accumulating on the icy halos forThe 4.5-billion-year-old planet appears to have acquired its iconic ornamentation relatively recently, says physicist Sascha Kempf of the University of Colorado Boulder. “We’re quite lucky to see a ring in the first place.”
The rings of Saturn are made of countless icy particles, which become covered with dust as tiny meteoroids strike them. These dustings darken the rings’ complexion, like mud sullies snow on roads in winter. This cosmic staining was key to the new analysis, as was the now-defunct Cassini spacecraft’s Cosmic Dust Analyzer. From 2004 to 2017, the instrument caught dust-sized micrometeoroids moving around Saturn, measuring their velocity, mass, charge and composition.
Kempf and colleagues identified about 160 particles — out of millions — that could have hailed from beyond the Saturn system. The researchers estimated the rate at which the incoming dust accumulates on Saturn’s rings, and calculated how long it would have taken to darken the rings to their observed color. The planet’s hoops might have materialized more than 100 million years after
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Up to 400 migrants could be temporarily relocated to Wright College in DunningOn Wednesday, Chicago City Council members will be asked to reallocate $51 million in surplus funds to the migrant crisis.
Read more »
Caught on camera: Suspect keys more than 400 carsPolice released security footage they say shows the suspect deliberately scratching the vehicles one at a time.
Read more »
Southern California Special Olympics spring games return to region for first time since the pandemicMore than 400 athletes happy to compete once again in five different sports
Read more »
5 Cited, Police Officer Hurt After After ‘Flash Mob' of 400 Teens Disrupts Tinley Park CarnivalFive teens were cited and one police officer was hurt after a “flash mob” of more than 400 teens created a disruptive and chaotic scene during a weekend carnival in suburban Tinley Park, officials say.
Read more »
'DICE' becomes NMIXX's 2nd song to hit 100 million streams on Spotify | allkpopNMIXX achieved a new milestone on Spotify with 'DICE'!On May 20 KST, NMIXX's 2022 single 'DICE' raxked up to over 100 …
Read more »
Double Wide | The 100 Best Bars in DFW 2022 | Dallas ObserverIf you love the trailer park aesthetic as much as we do, check out doublewidebar this weekend. It offers a selection of cheap, powerful and/or interesting drinks and its outdoor patio seating is made from repurposed toilets and road signs.
Read more »