ICY SCIENCE: SCIENCE SPACE ASTRONOMY Spring 2014 | Page 26

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The rings are mainly composed of water ice; they range Theory two is that the ring system are the remains
from small particles to larger lumps. Some of the material or left over’s from nebular material from which
in the ring is rocky however this is mainly trace elements. Saturn was formed. Other theories include a
Other planets have ring systems however Saturn’s are
the most stunning
We have found the rings vary in density and there are
gaps in the system, we have also discovered moons
embedded into the system.
How were they formed?

moon collision.
The densest parts of the ring system are the A
and B rings. There is a gap in between the rings
called the Cassini division. This was discovered by
Giovann Doenico Cassini in 1675. The C ring which
makes up the main three rings was discovered
in 1850. The main rings contain larger particles.

There are two main theories on how the rings were
formed. One theory is that a moon moved inwards during
its orbit, the tidal forces of Saturn ripped the moon apart
and created the ring system.

The other rings D,E,F,G can be described as dusty rings and are not as dense as the main three.
D ring inner most very faint
C ring wide and faint
B ring largest and brightest of the rings
A ring outer most of the large bright rings, its inner boundary is the Cassini division.
F outer most ring, and the most active. Its features change hourly.
Janus/Epimetheus ring faint dusty ring, the moons Janus and Epimetheus orbit in this ring. Material in this
ICY SCIENCE | QTR 2 SPRING 2014