A 'grazing encounter' may have smashed the moon to bits to form Saturn’s signature rings.
So why does the belted giant lean? Astronomers surmise that Saturn’s tilt is due to gravitational interactions with its planetary neighborA new study published today in the journalfinds that Saturn and Neptune’s gravity may have once been in sync, but Saturn has since escaped Neptune’s pull due to a missing moon.
The team first modeled the interior of Saturn and found a distribution of mass that matched its gravitational field. This newly identified moment of inertia placed Saturn close, but just outside resonance, with Neptune. “Then we went hunting for ways of getting Saturn out of Neptune’s resonance,” said
Singapore Latest News, Singapore Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Saturn Might Be Hiding Remains of a Secret, Massive Moon in Its RingsA team of astronomers at MIT suspect Saturn may be hiding the remains of an ancient moon in its rings — which could explain the planet's unusual tilt.
Read more »
A long-lost moon explains the origin of Saturn's signature rings | CNNWith its striking rings and tilted axis, Saturn is the showiest planet in the solar system. Now, scientists say they have a new theory as to how the gas giant got its signature look.
Read more »
A long-lost moon explains the origin of Saturn's signature ringsWith its striking rings and tilted axis, Saturn is the showiest planet in the solar system. Now, scientists say they have a new theory as to how the gas giant got its signature look.
Read more »
A long-lost moon may have given Saturn its signature rings | CNNWith its striking rings and tilted axis, Saturn is the showiest planet in the solar system. Now, scientists say they have a new theory as to how the gas giant got its signature look.
Read more »
Lost moon may have spawned Saturn’s ringsResearchers say the loss of a large moon could help explain both the origin of Saturn’s rings and the planet’s unusual tilt.
Read more »