Study: Saturn's rings could have appeared after the collision of huge moons

A new series of computer simulations from NASA and the Universities of Durham and Glasgow may help us better understand the origins of Saturn's rings. The first results are already there: according to research, published in The Astrophysical Journal, the formation of Saturn's famous rings could have started with the collision of two large moons.

The study was carried out using data and measurements obtained by the Cassini space probe. He has been studying the planet and its environment since entering Saturn's orbit in 2004.

The probe was able to obtain valuable data by passing through the gap between the rings around the planet and its surface. It turns out that the almost pure ice inside Saturn's rings has collected very little dust since the rings formed. This suggests that they formed during the "recent few percent of the solar system's lifetime," the statement explains.

After learning about the young age of the rings, the researchers used the COSMA supercomputer at Durham University to run simulations. It allowed the team to simulate different collisions and look for variations that could lead to the formation of rings.

The simulation suggests that the catalyst could be moons roughly the size of Rhea and Dione, two of Saturn's 145 existing moons - that is, 1,100-1,500 km in diameter. The researchers note that large debris that did not fall into the planet's rings could have given rise to smaller satellites.

Scientists hope that further research will help to learn more about the formation of rings.