Devastating process will take place when Saturn loses its rings

Pretty soon we're not going to be able to see Saturn's rings and it'll be several years before we get the chance to spot them once more.

Basically, we're going to get a perfect side view of the sixth planet from our Sun which eliminates our ability to spot the rings.

We see Saturn's rings because of the way the planet tilts so for short periods of time we're not able to spot them all the way over here on Earth.

2025 is the big year that we'll stop seeing those rings for a bit, so if you want to spot Saturn you'd better put a telescope on your wish list this Christmas instead of waiting.

Don't worry though, just because we can't see them it doesn't mean that Saturn's rings aren't still there and there will be plenty more opportunities to see them disappear and reappear.

Getty Stock Photo

That being said, nothing lasts forever and there will come a moment when Saturn's rings are finally gone for good.

While we haven't popped over to double check, we're pretty sure that the planet's rings are made up of bits of comets, asteroids and other chunks of space rock which are stuck in Saturn's gravity.

However, everything ends and that includes the majestic rings of Saturn, though thankfully it's going to take a little while before they're totally gone.

It'll take about 100 million years for Saturn to lose the rings completely so if you're still around by then you must be doing something quite right.

The rings around Saturn aren't just for show, they do serve an important purpose for what goes on there as well meaning that once they're gone so too is the impact they had.

Getty Stock Photo

Saturn's rings help reflect sunlight away from the planet and the eventual loss of them will strip the world of this protective barrier.

Without the rings, the temperature on Saturn could rise by up to 30C as it is hit by a greater amount of direct sunlight.

The rings also have a role in maintaining the atmosphere of the planet, so Saturn's loss of rings will have a drastic impact on it.

We definitely couldn't take an increase in temperature of 30C without catastrophic consequences for our planet and our species.

Fortunately, nobody lives on Saturn (that we know of) and the place is a gas giant so in 100 million years it's unlikely that anyone will have decided it's the perfect spot for their home.

Enjoy the rings of Saturn while they last, but know they'll last longer than you or I.

Topics: Space, Science

Joe Harker

Joe graduated from the University of Salford with a degree in Journalism and worked for Reach before joining the LADbible Group. When not writing he enjoys the nerdier things in life like painting wargaming miniatures and chatting with other nerds on the internet. He's also spent a few years coaching fencing. Contact him via [email protected]

@MrJoeHarker