Saturn’s rings will appear to vanish this weekend due to "ring plane crossing," occurring every 13-15 years. As Saturn’s thin rings align edge-on with Earth, they become nearly invisible. Saturn, the second-largest planet, has low density and fast rotation. NASA’s Cassini mission provided crucial insights into its rings and moons.
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Saturn’s Iconic Rings to Vanish This Weekend.
It is the sixth planet from the Sun and its rings—composed mostly of ice particles and chunks of rock—are set to disappear from view this weekend. This phenomenon is known as a "ring plane crossing," It occurs about every 13 to 15 years.
Saturn’s rings are not physically vanishing but due to their alignment with Earth’s line of sight.
Saturn orbits the Sun at a tilt of 27 degrees on its axis. As the planet moves through its 29.4-year orbit, there are moments when its rings align perfectly edge-on with Earth.
It is the second-largest planet in the solar system after Jupiter.
It is the least dense planet, with a density lower than water.
It consists mostly of hydrogen and helium.
It rapid rotation—completing one spin every 10.7 hours.
Its rings, composed of ice particles, rock, and dust. Scientists actively believe these rings formed from the remnants of comets, asteroids, or shattered moons that were torn apart by Saturn’s immense gravitational pull.
NASA’s Cassini-Huygens spacecraft was launched in 1997, it orbited Saturn for 13 years, providing data about the planet, its rings, and its moons.
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PRACTICE QUESTION Q. In the question given below, there are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as per the codes provided: Assertion (A): The asteroid belt is composed of the remnants of a planet that failed to form. Reason (R): Jupiter's immense gravity prevented the smaller bodies from accreting into a larger planetary body. Which of the options given below is correct? A) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation for A. B) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation for A. C) A is true, but R is false. D) A is false, but R is true. Answer: D Explanation: The asteroid belt is not the remnant of a shattered planet. Instead, scientists believe that the asteroids are primordial rocky leftovers from the early solar system that never merged into a planet because of Jupiter's powerful gravity. |
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