NASA announced that Saturn’s majestic rings will completely disappear within six months, starting on 23 March. The rings will become visible again in November 2025. But what is the cause of this cosmic event?
Saturn’s rings stand as a wide and thin structure that surrounds the planet. These rings are made up of small particles, comet debris, asteroids and broken moons that orbit the planet due to Saturn’s gravitational pull. But according to NASA, they will disappear within months. But why?
SATURN’S RINGS WILL DISAPPEAR IN 6 MONTHS
The US National Aeronautics and Space Agency (NASA) has announced that Saturn’s majestic rings will completely disappear from view in just six months and remain invisible for several months after that.
NASA said last year that stargazers have until 2025 to see these iconic structures before Saturn’s approach to Earth turns the vast rings into a nearly invisible line. However, it was stated that the rings will become invisible as of 23 March.
Contrary to popular belief, this cosmic event does not indicate a dangerous situation. It is caused by Saturn’s orbit around the Sun and its unique axial tilt. In March 2025, the Earth and Saturn will be aligned in such a way that stargazers using telescopes will look at Saturn’s rings from the side, creating the illusion that the rings have completely disappeared.
THIS EVENT OCCURS EVERY 13-16 YEARS
The rings will gradually become visible again before disappearing again in November 2025. Astronomers have been observing the periodic disappearance of the rings for centuries, as this event occurs every 13 to 16 years. Saturn’s rings last disappeared from Earth’s view in 2009.
