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Saturn’s majestic rings will vanish in just six months from now (www.earth.com)

submitted 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago) by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

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Note: The title is a bit clickbait (they'll merely become invisible from our line of sight), but I'm not going to editorialize the article title.

Come March 2025, Saturn's majestic rings will become virtually invisible to earth-based observers. This phenomenon occurs due to the unique tilt of Saturn's axis, which will position the rings edge-on to our line of sight. [...] Saturn's axial tilt, which is the angle its axis leans compared to its orbit around the Sun, is about 27 degrees. As Saturn moves during its 29.5 year orbit around the Sun, this tilt means different parts of its rings and moons get sunlight at different angles, changing how they look. So, the rings are not really disappearing but rather playing a celestial game of hide and seek. At their reappearance, we can also enjoy an accentuated view of Saturn's moons.

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[–] [email protected] 8 points 2 months ago

Saturn's rings regularly "disappear". Even Galileo noticed, although he had no idea what was happening.

In 1612 the Earth passed through the plane of the rings and they became invisible. Mystified, Galileo remarked "I do not know what to say in a case so surprising, so unlooked for and so novel." He mused, "Has Saturn swallowed his children?" — referring to the myth of the Titan Saturn devouring his offspring to forestall the prophecy of them overthrowing him. He was further confused when the rings again became visible in 1613. (From Wikipedia).