My, What Large Rings You Have

In this simulated image of Saturn's rings, color is used to present information about ring particle sizes in different regions based on the measured effects of three radio signals.
Photograph by: Handout, NASA/JPL

Astronomers have discovered a new mega-ring around Saturn. So far it is the largest ring identified in the Solar System, the circle starts about six million kilometers (3.7 million miles) from Saturn and extends outwardly by another 12 million kms (7.4 million miles), within the orbit of Phoebe.

Anne Verbiscer, a US astronomer dumbs it down for all of by stating "If you could see the ring, it would span the width of two full moons' worth of sky, one on either side of Saturn."


This new super sized ring is fainter then Jupiers "gossamer rings" which held the previous record for having the biggest rings in the solar system. Phoebe's ring is made up of mostly dust from rocks bashed off the little moon by interplanetary debris or other particles.

There is also suggestion from the team that this might explain the mystery of Iapetus, Saturn's bizarre two-tone, black-and-white moon.

"Astronomers have long suspected that there is a connection between Saturn's outer moon Phoebe and the dark material on Iapetus," said Douglas Hamilton of the University of Maryland.

One side of Iapetus is turning whiter, just as the other half is becoming darker. There is a so-called thermal segregation theory to explain this that suggests that the dark side of Iapetus, by absorbing more sunlight, is able to warm sufficiently to cause local water ice to evaporate. The vapour then circulates to condense on the nearest cold spot (the icy, bright side of the moon). As a result, the dark side loses its surface ice and there for becomes darker while the bright side accumulates ice making it brighter. Pretty interesting stuff!

Now, all I need is 38 million dollars so I can actually fly to space.