The Rings of Saturn are as Old as the Solar System, page 1

posted on Dec, 13 2007 @ 06:47 AM

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A new analysis of the dust and ice particles that circle the gas giant Saturn have indicated that it was formed at around the same time the planet was born. This is in contradiction to the previous claim that it was formed around the time of the dinosaurs.

Saturn's Rings Older Than First Thought?

(AP) -- Saturn's shimmering rings may be as old as the solar system, scientists said Wednesday, debunking earlier theories that the rings were formed during the dinosaur age.

Astronomers had thought Saturn's rings were cosmically young, likely born some 100 million years ago from leftovers of a meteoric collision with a moon, based on data by NASA's Voyager spacecraft in the 1970s.

However, new data from the orbiting international Cassini spacecraft suggest the rings existed as far back as 4.5 billion years ago, roughly the same time the sun and planets formed. The probe also found evidence that ring particles are constantly shattering and regrouping to form new rings.

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This news seems to further invalidate the theories of Begrun, et al. about 'The Ringmakers of Saturn'. I wonder what the supporters of that theory have to say about this new revelation?

Additional News Link:
Saturn's rings older than first thought?

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Daedalus3

posted on Dec, 14 2007 @ 09:52 AM

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Yea.. Saw this on BBC.
Quite a phenomenal find if its confirmed, this.
Now imgaine if we find traces of life in those rings sometime down the line!!

It'll be like a real life skewed version on 2001:A Space Odessey!

NGC2736

posted on Dec, 14 2007 @ 09:57 AM

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Would this put a damper on the theory that moons form from mass the same way planets do? If these rings haven't formed into moons in all this time, then why not?

Hmm? It makes a lot more questions for science to figure out.

interestedalways

posted on Dec, 14 2007 @ 10:41 AM

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NASA's pic of the day two days ago showed the rings.

What was facinating to me is that they looked just like an old vinyl record with the grooves and different sizes of grooving, etc.

I wonder if they are able to record data somehow.

Daedalus3

posted on Dec, 15 2007 @ 12:41 AM

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^^^

Oh now thats an absolutely novel idea!

Might be ridiculous but very interesting!

And how would one read the data?
Maybe a massive wash of magnetic/electrostatic forces, of the likes of major solar event scheduled maybe a few years from now?

Something that would re-orient the rings to show a mosaic of sorts? Or maybe reflect/refract/process the wash into intelligible radio signals? Sort of like a signal decoder or a passive RF ID system that just needs an energy source?

very cool.. almost makes a plot for a decent sci-fi!

[edit on 15-12-2007 by Daedalus3]

timelike

posted on Dec, 19 2007 @ 05:21 AM

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Yes what a wonderful find!!!

This is further proof (if anymore be needed!) that the ring maker of Saturn was mother nature herself, not little green men!!!

No doubt the true belivers will come up with yet another theory as to why there are "alien spaceships" there!!!