Saturn's rings will seemingly disappear from view in 2025, a phenomenon caused by the planet's rotation on an axis.

Saturn's rings will vanish in just 18 months

<p>Scientists are still probing Enceladus, Saturn's ocean moon, as they think there's more to what we already know on planet Earth. They are trying to find life on another planet, and in the past decade, the search and research have picked pace, with increased attention on Enceladus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>So far, what we know about Enceladus is that it's an ice-covered ocean. The information comes from the Cassini mission, a space-research mission by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency to study Saturn and its system, including its rings and natural satellites.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission ended its exploration of the Saturn system in 2017. However, scientists are still working through its data to find out more. Cassini discovered geyser-like plumes of water erupting through Enceladus' icy shell during its mission.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-tracks-an-aeroplane-sized-asteroid-hurtling-towards-earth-657080">NASA tracks an aeroplane-sized asteroid hurtling towards Earth</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>It performed a close-proximity flyby in 2008 and analysed the plumes with its Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA), which showed that the water in the plumes contained a surprising mix of volatiles, including carbon dioxide, water vapour, and carbon monoxide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The mission also found trace amounts of molecular nitrogen, simple hydrocarbons, and complex organic chemicals. Scientists are still analysing data from Cassini, which was destroyed in Saturn's atmosphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>A new paper, titled "Observations of Elemental Composition of Enceladus Consistent with Generalized Models of Theoretical Ecosystems", has unveiled new findings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the latest finding, the researchers have used ecological and metabolic theory and modelling to understand how ammonia and inorganic phosphorous in Enceladus' ocean could make the moon favourable for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasas-scientists-discover-how-planets-were-formed-with-james-webb-heres-how-the-magic-unravelled-657008">James Webb telescope helps NASA scientists discover how planets were formed</a></strong></p>

<p>The authors explain: "Apart from speculating about threshold concentrations of bioactive compounds to support ecosystems, metabolic and ecological theory can provide a powerful interpretative lens to assess whether extraterrestrial environments are compatible with living ecosystems."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The analysis could be related to the Redfield ratio which is the consistent atomic ratio of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus found in marine phytoplankton and throughout the deep oceans.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The theory is given by American oceanographer Alfred Redfield, who said in his study in 1934 that the ratio of carbon to nitrogen to phosphorous (C:N:P) was remarkably consistent across ocean biomass at 106:16:1.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The authors of the new paper say: "Because of this seeming ubiquity, the Redfield ratio has been considered a target signature for astrobiological life detection, especially on ocean worlds such as Europa and Enceladus."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study has noted that the analysis of Cassini's data from Enceladus' plumes shows a high level of inorganic phosphate in the ocean.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The authors have said that these reports of "phosphorus follow on the tails of previous work identifying numerous elemental constituents of terrestrial life (C, N, H, O) from the Enceladus plume".&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hence, Enceladus' ocean has a rich chemistry, and many chemicals reflect life's chemical makeup.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Scientists are still probing Enceladus, Saturn's ocean moon, as they think there's more to what we already know on planet Earth. They are trying to find life on another planet, and in the past decade, the search and research have picked pace, with increased attention on Enceladus.

Scientists are still probing Enceladus, Saturn's ocean moon, as they think there's more to what we already know on planet Earth. They are trying to find life on another planet, and in the past decade, the search and research have picked pace, with increased attention on Enceladus. So far, what we know about Enceladus is that it's an ice-covered ocean. The information comes from the Cassini mission, a space-research mission by NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency to study Saturn and its system, including its rings and natural satellites. The mission ended its exploration of the Saturn system in 2017. However, scientists are still working through its data to find out more. Cassini discovered geyser-like plumes of water erupting through Enceladus' icy shell during its mission. Also read: NASA tracks an aeroplane-sized asteroid hurtling towards Earth It performed a close-proximity flyby in 2008 and analysed the plumes with its Cosmic Dust Analyzer (CDA), which showed that the water in the plumes contained a surprising mix of volatiles, including carbon dioxide, water vapour, and carbon monoxide. The mission also found trace amounts of molecular nitrogen, simple hydrocarbons, and complex organic chemicals. Scientists are still analysing data from Cassini, which was destroyed in Saturn's atmosphere. A new paper, titled "Observations of Elemental Composition of Enceladus Consistent with Generalized Models of Theoretical Ecosystems", has unveiled new findings. For the latest finding, the researchers have used ecological and metabolic theory and modelling to understand how ammonia and inorganic phosphorous in Enceladus' ocean could make the moon favourable for life. Also read: James Webb telescope helps NASA scientists discover how planets were formed The authors explain: "Apart from speculating about threshold concentrations of bioactive compounds to support ecosystems, metabolic and ecological theory can provide a powerful interpretative lens to assess whether extraterrestrial environments are compatible with living ecosystems." The analysis could be related to the Redfield ratio which is the consistent atomic ratio of carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus found in marine phytoplankton and throughout the deep oceans. The theory is given by American oceanographer Alfred Redfield, who said in his study in 1934 that the ratio of carbon to nitrogen to phosphorous (C:N:P) was remarkably consistent across ocean biomass at 106:16:1. The authors of the new paper say: "Because of this seeming ubiquity, the Redfield ratio has been considered a target signature for astrobiological life detection, especially on ocean worlds such as Europa and Enceladus." The study has noted that the analysis of Cassini's data from Enceladus' plumes shows a high level of inorganic phosphate in the ocean. The authors have said that these reports of "phosphorus follow on the tails of previous work identifying numerous elemental constituents of terrestrial life (C, N, H, O) from the Enceladus plume". Hence, Enceladus' ocean has a rich chemistry, and many chemicals reflect life's chemical makeup. (With inputs from agencies)

Enceladus: Does Saturn's ocean moon hold chemicals necessary for life?

<p>Saturn, the giant planet known for its rings, will soon lose its crowning glory. As per NASA, the gas planet's famous interstellar hoops will soon disappear — thankfully they are not going out of existence, we just won't be able to see them any more.</p>

<h2><strong>Why are Saturn's rings disappearing?</strong></h2>

<p>Saturn's rings will vanish from our planet's view because of its tilting within its axis of orbit. Basically, the planet, as it makes its way around the sun once more, will tilt and the face we are used to — the one with the famous rings, will go out of view.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-nasa-to-send-nuclear-powered-dragonfly-to-saturns-moon-titan-heres-all-you-need-to-know-651572">Explained: NASA to send 'nuclear-powered' Dragonfly to Saturn's moon Titan. Here's all you need to know</a></strong></p>

<p>Saturn makes the journey around the sun in about 30 Earth years. Throughout this journey, based on the planet's tilt, its rings are more or less visible, according to NASA.</p>

<p>"For nearly half of Saturn's orbit, the sun shines on the south side of the rings. For the other half, it shines on the north side," notes a NASA transcript as quoted by USA Today.</p>

<h2><strong>When will Saturn's rings disappear?</strong></h2>

<p>Stargazers should try to enjoy the view while they can. As per NASA estimates, the rings will disappear in about 18 months, around March 2025.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Currently, Saturn's tilt is angled downwards at nine degrees and in 2024, this will decrease to a barely visible 3.7 degrees. Finally, in March 2025, it will hit zero degrees, which as per Earth.com will be akin to seeing "a sheet of paper edge-on when it’s positioned at the far end of a soccer field."</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-curiosity-rover-finds-evidence-mars-was-once-a-planet-of-rivers-651444">Life on Mars? Curiosity rover discovers that it was once a 'planet of rivers'</a></strong></p>

<p>However, we need not worry, the rings will return soon. By 2032, Saturn's angle of tilt will once again be 27 degrees, which will offer the optimal view of its rings.</p>

<h2><strong>Do Saturn's rings vanish often?</strong></h2>

<p>They go out of view every few years, but experts estimate that they may eventually disappear out of existence. However, this won't happen in our lifetimes, or in our children's. It will actually take a few hundred million years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Saturn has seven distinct rings, that are made up of ice, rocky debris and dust. As per NASA, it is believed that these are the remains of comets, asteroids and moons that were pulled apart by the planet's powerful gravitational pull. These celestial hoops extend some 70,000 to 140,000 kilometres — the equivalent of the width of 30 Earths. Yet, in most places they are very thin — only 90 metres.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Saturn, the giant planet known for its rings, will soon lose its crowning glory. As per NASA, the gas planet's famous interstellar hoops will soon disappear — thankfully they are not going out of existence, we just won't be able to see them any more.

Saturn, the giant planet known for its rings, will soon lose its crowning glory. As per NASA, the gas planet's famous interstellar hoops will soon disappear — thankfully they are not going out of existence, we just won't be able to see them any more. Why are Saturn's rings disappearing? Saturn's rings will vanish from our planet's view because of its tilting within its axis of orbit. Basically, the planet, as it makes its way around the sun once more, will tilt and the face we are used to — the one with the famous rings, will go out of view. Also read | Explained: NASA to send 'nuclear-powered' Dragonfly to Saturn's moon Titan. Here's all you need to know Saturn makes the journey around the sun in about 30 Earth years. Throughout this journey, based on the planet's tilt, its rings are more or less visible, according to NASA. "For nearly half of Saturn's orbit, the sun shines on the south side of the rings. For the other half, it shines on the north side," notes a NASA transcript as quoted by USA Today. When will Saturn's rings disappear? Stargazers should try to enjoy the view while they can. As per NASA estimates, the rings will disappear in about 18 months, around March 2025. Currently, Saturn's tilt is angled downwards at nine degrees and in 2024, this will decrease to a barely visible 3.7 degrees. Finally, in March 2025, it will hit zero degrees, which as per Earth.com will be akin to seeing "a sheet of paper edge-on when it’s positioned at the far end of a soccer field." Also read | Life on Mars? Curiosity rover discovers that it was once a 'planet of rivers' However, we need not worry, the rings will return soon. By 2032, Saturn's angle of tilt will once again be 27 degrees, which will offer the optimal view of its rings. Do Saturn's rings vanish often? They go out of view every few years, but experts estimate that they may eventually disappear out of existence. However, this won't happen in our lifetimes, or in our children's. It will actually take a few hundred million years. Saturn has seven distinct rings, that are made up of ice, rocky debris and dust. As per NASA, it is believed that these are the remains of comets, asteroids and moons that were pulled apart by the planet's powerful gravitational pull. These celestial hoops extend some 70,000 to 140,000 kilometres — the equivalent of the width of 30 Earths. Yet, in most places they are very thin — only 90 metres. (With inputs from agencies)

Stargazers beware! Saturn's rings will vanish soon. Here's when

<p>NASA shared the image of a celestial body on its Instagram page and asked netizens to guess its name. The image shared showed a white celestial body with a broad ring around it, giving it the appearance of a&nbsp;dumpling or ravioli.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA’s official Instagram page captioned it, “Ravioli, pierogi, empanada...What do you see? No wrong answers.”</p>

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<p>Turns out, the object shown in the picture is the innermost moon of Saturn called Pan. The image of Pan was captured by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/alien-life-unlike-humans-may-not-be-carbon-based-suggests-new-study-639916">Alien life, unlike humans, may not be carbon-based, suggests new study</a></p>

<p>The American space agency further wrote in the caption, “Pan, the innermost of Saturn’s known moons, orbits the planet from inside a gap in one of Saturn's rings.”</p>

<h2><strong>Pan: Saturn’s innermost moon</strong></h2>

<p>The planet Saturn has many moons and&nbsp;a whopping 145 of them are known and named. Pan is one of those moons, and not just that, it is the innermost moon of the ringed planet. Pan is a small, walnut-shaped moon approximately 35 km and 23 km wide that orbits the Encke Gap, a part of Saturn’s A Ring. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Pan is responsible for keeping the Encke Gap free of ring particles. It is sometimes described as having the appearance of ravioli, the reason why NASA captioned it as ‘ravioli’</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/dangerous-rat-borne-disease-threatens-southeastern-us-warn-scientists-639873">Dangerous rat-borne disease threatens southeastern US, warn scientists</a></p>

<h2><strong>Netizens react with witty comments</strong></h2>

<p>NASA added that the moon was first discovered by MR Showalter in 1990 using the images taken by Voyager 2 spacecraft.⁣ These recent images of Pan were captured by the Cassini spacecraft while passing within 15,300 miles (24,600 km) of the moon. It is also the spacecraft's closest encounter with Pan.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/not-dyson-sphere-search-other-technosignatures-to-search-for-aliens-study-639804">Not Dyson Sphere, search other technosignatures to find aliens: Study</a></p>

<p>NASA said that the two images shared of Pan were taken from different perspectives - one from above the moon and the other from below the moon. The moon appears to have a flat ridge around its midpoint, and lines that look like they were scraped across its surface, wrote NASA.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Netizens&nbsp;were not only fascinated by the images but also spun some seriously funny puns.</p>

<p>One user wrote, “Ravioli can be cooked on Pans right?” Another user described it as “cabbage.”</p>

<p>One user called it the “Strangest moon ever! It's looks like a hat from upper view”.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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NASA shared the image of a celestial body on its Instagram page and asked netizens to guess its name. The image shared showed a white celestial body with a broad ring around it, giving it the appearance of a dumpling or ravioli.

NASA shared the image of a celestial body on its Instagram page and asked netizens to guess its name. The image shared showed a white celestial body with a broad ring around it, giving it the appearance of a dumpling or ravioli. NASA’s official Instagram page captioned it, “Ravioli, pierogi, empanada...What do you see? No wrong answers.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × Turns out, the object shown in the picture is the innermost moon of Saturn called Pan. The image of Pan was captured by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. Also Read | Alien life, unlike humans, may not be carbon-based, suggests new study The American space agency further wrote in the caption, “Pan, the innermost of Saturn’s known moons, orbits the planet from inside a gap in one of Saturn's rings.” Pan: Saturn’s innermost moon The planet Saturn has many moons and a whopping 145 of them are known and named. Pan is one of those moons, and not just that, it is the innermost moon of the ringed planet. Pan is a small, walnut-shaped moon approximately 35 km and 23 km wide that orbits the Encke Gap, a part of Saturn’s A Ring. Pan is responsible for keeping the Encke Gap free of ring particles. It is sometimes described as having the appearance of ravioli, the reason why NASA captioned it as ‘ravioli’ Also Read | Dangerous rat-borne disease threatens southeastern US, warn scientists Netizens react with witty comments NASA added that the moon was first discovered by MR Showalter in 1990 using the images taken by Voyager 2 spacecraft.⁣ These recent images of Pan were captured by the Cassini spacecraft while passing within 15,300 miles (24,600 km) of the moon. It is also the spacecraft's closest encounter with Pan. Also Read | Not Dyson Sphere, search other technosignatures to find aliens: Study NASA said that the two images shared of Pan were taken from different perspectives - one from above the moon and the other from below the moon. The moon appears to have a flat ridge around its midpoint, and lines that look like they were scraped across its surface, wrote NASA. Netizens were not only fascinated by the images but also spun some seriously funny puns. One user wrote, “Ravioli can be cooked on Pans right?” Another user described it as “cabbage.” One user called it the “Strangest moon ever! It's looks like a hat from upper view”. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

A cabbage? Ravioli? Walnut? A weird celestial body has left netizens intrigued

The James Webb Space Telescope has identified carbon dioxide originating from the salty liquid oceans of Jupiter's icy moon Europa.

James Webb Space Telescope detects carbon on Jupiter's icy moon Europa

A man in West Bengal had promised the Moon to his wife before they got married. On her first birthday after the wedding, Sanjay Mahato went on to buy a "plot of Moon land" for Rs 10,000 to gift his wife.

Bengal man gifts wife piece of land on Moon after Chandrayaan-3 success

<p>Saturn is often called the majestic planet of our Solar System as it has the most prominent rings visible from even an amateur telescope from the surface of the Earth. The planet has captivated us for centuries and has come to assume many identities in myths and legends across the world. NASA had launched the Cassini probe in the year 1997 to study the planet up close. The probe reached Saturn in the year 2004 and clicked some truly brilliant pictures as it did several flybys.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA has now revisited one of these pictures. On its Instagram feed, NASA has posted the iconic image of Saturn taken by the Cassini probe, and Earth is photobombing along with the Moon, Mars and Venus!</p>

<p>When the Cassini spacecraft captured this image, it was a whopping 1.2 billion kilometres (746,000 miles) away from Earth. NASA says that this image of the ringed planet was taken using red, green and blue filters in order to catch the natural-colour view of Saturn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The photobombers, namely the Earth, the Moon along with Venus and Mars are visible as mere dots of light.</p>

<p>NASA's repost of the iconic image has come just when Saturn is visible each day in the sky at the time of sunset. The planet will be visible this way until February 2024. It will be visible as a bright yellowish "star" on southwestern horizon.</p>

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<p>Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is the second-largest planet in our Solar System. Contrary to common belief, the ring around Saturn is not a single structure but it is made up of thousands of ringlets made of chunks of ice and rock. It's a massive ball made mainly of hydrogen and helium just like Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/watch-isros-vikram-lander-makes-soft-landing-on-moon-again-exceeds-mission-objectives-632122"><strong>Watch: ISRO's Vikram lander makes soft landing on Moon again, 'exceeds mission objectives'</strong></a></p>

<p>Fun thing about Saturn is its density is less than that of water. So if the planet is put in a giant tub filled with water, it will actually float! Finding such a big tub would definitely be a problem as Saturn is more than nine times larger than Earth.</p>

<p>You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form"><strong>here</strong></a>.</p>

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Saturn is often called the majestic planet of our Solar System as it has the most prominent rings visible from even an amateur telescope from the surface of the Earth.

Saturn is often called the majestic planet of our Solar System as it has the most prominent rings visible from even an amateur telescope from the surface of the Earth. The planet has captivated us for centuries and has come to assume many identities in myths and legends across the world. NASA had launched the Cassini probe in the year 1997 to study the planet up close. The probe reached Saturn in the year 2004 and clicked some truly brilliant pictures as it did several flybys. NASA has now revisited one of these pictures. On its Instagram feed, NASA has posted the iconic image of Saturn taken by the Cassini probe, and Earth is photobombing along with the Moon, Mars and Venus! When the Cassini spacecraft captured this image, it was a whopping 1.2 billion kilometres (746,000 miles) away from Earth. NASA says that this image of the ringed planet was taken using red, green and blue filters in order to catch the natural-colour view of Saturn. The photobombers, namely the Earth, the Moon along with Venus and Mars are visible as mere dots of light. NASA's repost of the iconic image has come just when Saturn is visible each day in the sky at the time of sunset. The planet will be visible this way until February 2024. It will be visible as a bright yellowish "star" on southwestern horizon. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is the second-largest planet in our Solar System. Contrary to common belief, the ring around Saturn is not a single structure but it is made up of thousands of ringlets made of chunks of ice and rock. It's a massive ball made mainly of hydrogen and helium just like Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System. Watch: ISRO's Vikram lander makes soft landing on Moon again, 'exceeds mission objectives' Fun thing about Saturn is its density is less than that of water. So if the planet is put in a giant tub filled with water, it will actually float! Finding such a big tub would definitely be a problem as Saturn is more than nine times larger than Earth. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA revisits iconic Saturn pic, and Earth is photobombing

<p>Skywatchers assemble! Saturn, the giant ringed planet might make its best appearance of 2023 this weekend. The sixth planet will be the brightest and best placed (as seen from Earth) during this time, which will be a delight to skywatchers’ eyes.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This weekend, Saturn will be situated directly opposite the Sun with Earth in the middle. According to NASA, the gas-giant will also reach its perigee, that is, it will be closest to Earth. The combination of these two celestial events will make Saturn appear at its brightest and biggest this weekend.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-spacex-set-sight-on-saturday-for-launch-of-crew-7-to-international-space-station-629325">NASA, SpaceX set sight on Saturday launch of Crew-7 to International Space Station</a></p>

<p>The planet will remain visible through February 2024.</p>

<p>Here is everything you need to know to see Saturn at its brightest and best in 2023:</p>

<h2><strong>When will Saturn be at its biggest and brightest?</strong></h2>

<p>Saturn’s best view can be seen on Sunday (Aug 27), as per Space.com. On Sunday, the planet will reach its highest point around midnight in North America, while the exact moment of its appearance will occur a few hours later, around 4:20 am EDT (8:20 GMT or 1:50 pm IST) on Sunday.&nbsp;</p>

<p>At the moment of opposition, Saturn will reach magnitude 0.4, its brightest for 2023. Brighter objects have a lower magnitude; the full moon, by comparison, has a magnitude of around -12.6, according to NASA. This means Saturn should be easily visible to the unaided eye as a bright, non-flickering orb in the sky.</p>

<h2><strong>How to watch Saturn at its brightest and biggest?</strong></h2>

<p>Though on Sunday, Saturn can be viewed with the naked eye, but binoculars will reveal more detail and bring out the pale yellow colour of the planet. Under the right conditions, some high-power binoculars could even begin to bring out faint traces of Saturn's rings or even its largest moon, Titan.</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/explained-scientists-close-on-to-figure-out-male-infertility-after-full-sequencing-of-y-chromosome-629426">Explained | Scientists finally decipher enigmatic Y chromosome, feat to help study male infertility</a></p>

<p>Through a telescope, however, Saturn's rings should be clearly apparent. The gas giant's rings are currently beginning to tilt more on-edge toward Earth and will continue to do so through 2025, according to NASA. That makes this weekend an optimal time to catch a glimpse of one of the best night sky targets available to most backyard skywatchers.</p>

<h2><strong>The best way to find Saturn in the night sky</strong></h2>

<p>The ringed planet is currently within the constellation of Aquarius, which is visible in the northern sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. It would be perfect to find a clear view of the southern horizon to spot Saturn easily.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
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<p>You can <strong>now write for wionews.com</strong> and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/content-contribution-registration-form">here</a>.</strong></p>

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Skywatchers assemble! Saturn, the giant ringed planet might make its best appearance of 2023 this weekend. The sixth planet will be the brightest and best placed (as seen from Earth) during this time, which will be a delight to skywatchers’ eyes.

Skywatchers assemble! Saturn, the giant ringed planet might make its best appearance of 2023 this weekend. The sixth planet will be the brightest and best placed (as seen from Earth) during this time, which will be a delight to skywatchers’ eyes. This weekend, Saturn will be situated directly opposite the Sun with Earth in the middle. According to NASA, the gas-giant will also reach its perigee, that is, it will be closest to Earth. The combination of these two celestial events will make Saturn appear at its brightest and biggest this weekend. Also Read | NASA, SpaceX set sight on Saturday launch of Crew-7 to International Space Station The planet will remain visible through February 2024. Here is everything you need to know to see Saturn at its brightest and best in 2023: When will Saturn be at its biggest and brightest? Saturn’s best view can be seen on Sunday (Aug 27), as per Space.com. On Sunday, the planet will reach its highest point around midnight in North America, while the exact moment of its appearance will occur a few hours later, around 4:20 am EDT (8:20 GMT or 1:50 pm IST) on Sunday. At the moment of opposition, Saturn will reach magnitude 0.4, its brightest for 2023. Brighter objects have a lower magnitude; the full moon, by comparison, has a magnitude of around -12.6, according to NASA. This means Saturn should be easily visible to the unaided eye as a bright, non-flickering orb in the sky. How to watch Saturn at its brightest and biggest? Though on Sunday, Saturn can be viewed with the naked eye, but binoculars will reveal more detail and bring out the pale yellow colour of the planet. Under the right conditions, some high-power binoculars could even begin to bring out faint traces of Saturn's rings or even its largest moon, Titan. Also Read | Explained | Scientists finally decipher enigmatic Y chromosome, feat to help study male infertility Through a telescope, however, Saturn's rings should be clearly apparent. The gas giant's rings are currently beginning to tilt more on-edge toward Earth and will continue to do so through 2025, according to NASA. That makes this weekend an optimal time to catch a glimpse of one of the best night sky targets available to most backyard skywatchers. The best way to find Saturn in the night sky The ringed planet is currently within the constellation of Aquarius, which is visible in the northern sky as seen from the northern hemisphere. It would be perfect to find a clear view of the southern horizon to spot Saturn easily. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Skywatchers alert! Saturn will make its brightest and biggest appearance this weekend. Here's how to watch it

<p>The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) posted a breathtaking snap of Saturn and its moon Mimas on Instagram. This awe-inspiring photograph was taken from a distance of 5,76,000 miles (9,27,000 km) by the Cassini spacecraft and has left space enthusiasts spellbound.</p>

<p>The pictures of Saturn and its distant moon have captivated netizens who have left a barrage of comments on the social media post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The image shared by NASA presents a magnificent view of Saturn's grandeur, capturing not only the gas giant itself but also its majestic rings.&nbsp;In addition, the picture also features one of Saturn's distant moons gazing upon the cosmic spectacle from afar.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/fed-fines-deutsche-bank-186-million-for-inefficient-action-to-restrain-money-laundering-617784">Fed fines Deutsche Bank $186 million for inefficient action to restrain money laundering</a></p>

<p>Cassini's voyage through Saturn's system allowed it to study the planet's atmosphere, magnetosphere, moons, and rings, revealing astonishing insights into the mysteries of this celestial wonderland.</p>

<h2><strong>Saturn's mysteries unveiled</strong></h2>

<p>As can be seen from the intriguing pictures, Saturn is similarly tilted much like Earth. The planet experienced seven Earth-year-long seasons on its ringed surface. Such subtle yet fascinating details make Saturn a celestial marvel.</p>

<p>Accompanying the Cassini spacecraft on its cosmic journey was the Huygens lander probe, NASA wrote in the post caption.&nbsp;</p>

<p>With collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Huygens achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first human-made object to land on a world in the distant outer solar system. &nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/ai-powered-sex-robots-may-eliminate-need-for-human-partners-claims-former-google-executive-617766">Robots for sex? Expert warns AI can 'eliminate' the need for human partners</a></p>

<p>"ESA's Huygen's probe was designed to study the smog-like atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon Titan as it parachuted to the surface. It also carried cameras to photograph the moon's surface. Huygen's traveled to Saturn aboard NASA's Cassini orbiter," NASA said in a website post.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It touched down on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, in 2005, unearthing valuable information about the gas giant and its many moons. "Titan may be one of the best places to search for life in our solar system," NASA wrote in the Instagram post. \</p>

<h2><strong>Netizens left mesmerised&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Since NASA uploaded the captivating picture, it has garnered overwhelming attention. The post amassed over 850,000 likes and drew numerous comments from enthralled viewers.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Space enthusiasts and casual observers alike were mesmerised by Saturn's immense size compared to its moon and marveled at the intricate rings. "Oh wow... Saturn is HUGE compared to that moon," wrote a user.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch | Israel: Protesters demand complete withdrawal of judicial bill</strong></p>

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<p>The photograph has sparked a sense of wonder and imagination among users.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some contemplated the notion of living on a moon with a mere 123-mile radius. "Imagine living on a moon with a 123-mile radius," another user commented.</p>

<p>Another user commented, "Perfection! I love seeing the shadows from the rings."</p>

<p>Others couldn't help but question the authenticity of NASA's stunning picture of Saturn and its moon Mimas on social media. "OMG! Is this a real image of Saturn," asked one user.</p>

<p>Unable to believe the beauty captured in the picture, one user commented, "Is it computer generated or captured by camera?"&nbsp;"What an amazing shot of the rings," another one commented.&nbsp;</p>

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) posted a breathtaking snap of Saturn and its moon Mimas on Instagram. This awe-inspiring photograph was taken from a distance of 5,76,000 miles (9,27,000 km) by the Cassini spacecraft and has left space enthusiasts spellbound.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) posted a breathtaking snap of Saturn and its moon Mimas on Instagram. This awe-inspiring photograph was taken from a distance of 5,76,000 miles (9,27,000 km) by the Cassini spacecraft and has left space enthusiasts spellbound. The pictures of Saturn and its distant moon have captivated netizens who have left a barrage of comments on the social media post. The image shared by NASA presents a magnificent view of Saturn's grandeur, capturing not only the gas giant itself but also its majestic rings. In addition, the picture also features one of Saturn's distant moons gazing upon the cosmic spectacle from afar. Also Read | Fed fines Deutsche Bank $186 million for inefficient action to restrain money laundering Cassini's voyage through Saturn's system allowed it to study the planet's atmosphere, magnetosphere, moons, and rings, revealing astonishing insights into the mysteries of this celestial wonderland. Saturn's mysteries unveiled As can be seen from the intriguing pictures, Saturn is similarly tilted much like Earth. The planet experienced seven Earth-year-long seasons on its ringed surface. Such subtle yet fascinating details make Saturn a celestial marvel. Accompanying the Cassini spacecraft on its cosmic journey was the Huygens lander probe, NASA wrote in the post caption. With collaboration with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Huygens achieved a remarkable feat by becoming the first human-made object to land on a world in the distant outer solar system. Also Read | Robots for sex? Expert warns AI can 'eliminate' the need for human partners "ESA's Huygen's probe was designed to study the smog-like atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon Titan as it parachuted to the surface. It also carried cameras to photograph the moon's surface. Huygen's traveled to Saturn aboard NASA's Cassini orbiter," NASA said in a website post. It touched down on Saturn's largest moon, Titan, in 2005, unearthing valuable information about the gas giant and its many moons. "Titan may be one of the best places to search for life in our solar system," NASA wrote in the Instagram post. \ Netizens left mesmerised Since NASA uploaded the captivating picture, it has garnered overwhelming attention. The post amassed over 850,000 likes and drew numerous comments from enthralled viewers. View this post on Instagram A post shared by NASA (@nasa) × Space enthusiasts and casual observers alike were mesmerised by Saturn's immense size compared to its moon and marveled at the intricate rings. "Oh wow... Saturn is HUGE compared to that moon," wrote a user. Watch | Israel: Protesters demand complete withdrawal of judicial bill × The photograph has sparked a sense of wonder and imagination among users. Some contemplated the notion of living on a moon with a mere 123-mile radius. "Imagine living on a moon with a 123-mile radius," another user commented. Another user commented, "Perfection! I love seeing the shadows from the rings." Others couldn't help but question the authenticity of NASA's stunning picture of Saturn and its moon Mimas on social media. "OMG! Is this a real image of Saturn," asked one user. Unable to believe the beauty captured in the picture, one user commented, "Is it computer generated or captured by camera?" "What an amazing shot of the rings," another one commented. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. ×

Breathtaking! NASA's Cassini spacecraft releases pics of Saturn, its mesmerising moon Mimas

<p><meta name="uuid" content="uuidDvsZxKdX4oPC" /><meta charset="utf-8" />The James Webb Telescope captured a stunning image of Saturn's rings. According to a blog by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) dated June 30, the image was captured on June 25. "Saturn itself appears extremely dark at this infrared wavelength observed by the telescope, as methane gas absorbs almost all of the sunlight falling on the atmosphere. However, the icy rings stay relatively bright, leading to the unusual appearance of Saturn in the Webb image," the blog post said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The image was taken as part of the Webb Guaranteed Time Observation program 1247- which included very deep exposures of Saturn, which were designed to test the telescope’s capacity to detect faint moons around the planet and its bright rings.</p>

<h2><strong>What does the image reveal?</strong></h2>

<p>As per the blog post, the image revealed details within Saturn's ring system along with several of the planet’s moons – Dione, Enceladus, and Tethys. The additional deeper exposures would allow NASA to investigate Saturn's fainter rings- including the G ring and the E ring.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA says the rings surrounding Saturn are mostly broad, with a few singular narrow gaps between the broader rings. There is an innermost, thicker ring, and next to it is a brighter, wider ring.</p>

<p>Travelling farther outward, there is a small dark gap before another thicker ring. In the thicker ring, there is a narrow faint band. There is then an outermost, faintest, thinnest ring, the space agency adds.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The post further said that Saturn's atmosphere also showed surprising and unexpected detail.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Although the Cassini spacecraft observed the atmosphere at greater clarity, this is the first time that the planet’s atmosphere has been seen with this clarity at this particular wavelength (3.23 microns), which is unique to Webb," it added.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The large, dark, diffuse structures in the northern hemisphere do not follow the planet’s lines of latitude, so this image is lacking the familiar striped appearance that is typically seen from Saturn’s deeper atmospheric layers.&nbsp;</p>

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The James Webb Telescope captured a stunning image of Saturn's rings. According to a blog by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) dated June 30, the image was captured on June 25.

The James Webb Telescope captured a stunning image of Saturn's rings. According to a blog by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) dated June 30, the image was captured on June 25. "Saturn itself appears extremely dark at this infrared wavelength observed by the telescope, as methane gas absorbs almost all of the sunlight falling on the atmosphere. However, the icy rings stay relatively bright, leading to the unusual appearance of Saturn in the Webb image," the blog post said. The image was taken as part of the Webb Guaranteed Time Observation program 1247- which included very deep exposures of Saturn, which were designed to test the telescope’s capacity to detect faint moons around the planet and its bright rings. What does the image reveal? As per the blog post, the image revealed details within Saturn's ring system along with several of the planet’s moons – Dione, Enceladus, and Tethys. The additional deeper exposures would allow NASA to investigate Saturn's fainter rings- including the G ring and the E ring. NASA says the rings surrounding Saturn are mostly broad, with a few singular narrow gaps between the broader rings. There is an innermost, thicker ring, and next to it is a brighter, wider ring. Travelling farther outward, there is a small dark gap before another thicker ring. In the thicker ring, there is a narrow faint band. There is then an outermost, faintest, thinnest ring, the space agency adds. The post further said that Saturn's atmosphere also showed surprising and unexpected detail. "Although the Cassini spacecraft observed the atmosphere at greater clarity, this is the first time that the planet’s atmosphere has been seen with this clarity at this particular wavelength (3.23 microns), which is unique to Webb," it added. The large, dark, diffuse structures in the northern hemisphere do not follow the planet’s lines of latitude, so this image is lacking the familiar striped appearance that is typically seen from Saturn’s deeper atmospheric layers. WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA's James Webb Telescope captures Saturn's rings. Here are the details

Here, we bring you the news that is trending across WION's social media platforms-Humans are curious to find life outside planet Earth and they launch new programs and missions for the same. But the long hunt for extraterrestrials in our solar system just got a massive boost as according to the scientists, a Moon of Saturn has everything needed for life.

`Stunning discovery` says life possible on Saturn`s moon

Combing through data sent home by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, scientists have discovered phosphorus, a key chemical element for many biological processes on Saturn’s moon, Enceladus. Phosphorus is the rarest of six elements upon which life as we know it depends, has been found in a tiny ocean-bearing moon in our solar system.

Aliens: Are we looking in the wrong place?

<p>Humans are curious to find life outside planet Earth and they launch new programmes and missions for the same. The long hunt for extraterrestrials in our solar system just got a massive boost as according to scientists, a Moon of Saturn has everything needed for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists discovered that phosphorus, a key building block of life, lies in the ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus.</p>

<p>They used data collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Cassini mission and found that phosphorus was locked inside salt-rich ice grains ejected into space from Enceladus.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study was published on Wednesday (June 14) in the journal Nature, and a report was also published on the official website of NASA. Notably, Cassini started exploring Saturn and its rings and moons in 2004, it was burned up in the planet's atmosphere when its mission ended in 2017.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn and is mostly covered by fresh, clean ice, which makes it one of the most reflective bodies of the solar system.&nbsp;The outer surface is said to be wrapped in an ice crust, but the inner one is an ocean. Some scientists have claimed that the ocean could be a home for alien life making the moon most likely hope for finding nearby extraterrestrial life.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/aliens-mystery-deepens-after-police-fit-surveillance-cameras-to-track-ufo-claim-604535">'Aliens' mystery deepens after police fit surveillance cameras to track UFO claim</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<p>As mentioned, Enceladus has a subsurface ocean, and water from that ocean erupts through the cracks of icy crust surface as geysers at its south pole. It created a plume, which eventually feeds Saturn’s E ring with icy particles. The E ring is a faint ring outside of the brighter main rings.&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA said that Cassini flew through the plume and E ring numerous times and scientists found that Enceladus' ice grains contain a rich array of minerals and organic compounds linked to life as we know it.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Christopher Glein of the Southwest Research Institute, one of the paper's co-authors, said: "This is a stunning discovery for astrobiology. We have found abundant phosphorus in plume ice samples spraying out of the subsurface ocean."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas Plus: Is America hiding Alien technology?&nbsp;</strong></p>

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<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alien-connection-of-vatican-pentagon-whistleblower-says-church-involved-in-first-ever-ufo-crash-604514">Alien connection of Vatican? Pentagon whistleblower says Church involved in first-ever UFO crash</a>&nbsp;</strong></p>

<h2><strong>Why is phosphorus key element for life?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>NASA said in its report that phosphorus, which is the least abundant of the essential elements necessary for biological processes, hadn't been detected until now.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It is a building block for DNA, which forms chromosomes and carries genetic information and is present in the bones of mammals, cell membranes, and ocean-dwelling plankton. According to NASA's report, phosphorus is also a fundamental part of energy-carrying molecules present in all life on Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As quoted by NASA, Frank Postberg, a planetary scientist at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, said, "We previously found that Enceladus' ocean is rich in a variety of organic compounds."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Postberg, who led the new study, further said, "But now, this new result reveals the clear chemical signature of substantial amounts of phosphorus salts inside icy particles ejected into space by the small moon's plume. It's the first time this essential element has been discovered in an ocean beyond Earth."&nbsp;<br />
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Humans are curious to find life outside planet Earth and they launch new programmes and missions for the same. The long hunt for extraterrestrials in our solar system just got a massive boost as according to scientists, a Moon of Saturn has everything needed for life.

Humans are curious to find life outside planet Earth and they launch new programmes and missions for the same. The long hunt for extraterrestrials in our solar system just got a massive boost as according to scientists, a Moon of Saturn has everything needed for life. Scientists discovered that phosphorus, a key building block of life, lies in the ocean beneath the icy surface of Saturn's moon Enceladus. They used data collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)'s Cassini mission and found that phosphorus was locked inside salt-rich ice grains ejected into space from Enceladus. The study was published on Wednesday (June 14) in the journal Nature, and a report was also published on the official website of NASA. Notably, Cassini started exploring Saturn and its rings and moons in 2004, it was burned up in the planet's atmosphere when its mission ended in 2017. Enceladus is the sixth-largest moon of Saturn and is mostly covered by fresh, clean ice, which makes it one of the most reflective bodies of the solar system. The outer surface is said to be wrapped in an ice crust, but the inner one is an ocean. Some scientists have claimed that the ocean could be a home for alien life making the moon most likely hope for finding nearby extraterrestrial life. Also read: 'Aliens' mystery deepens after police fit surveillance cameras to track UFO claim As mentioned, Enceladus has a subsurface ocean, and water from that ocean erupts through the cracks of icy crust surface as geysers at its south pole. It created a plume, which eventually feeds Saturn’s E ring with icy particles. The E ring is a faint ring outside of the brighter main rings. NASA said that Cassini flew through the plume and E ring numerous times and scientists found that Enceladus' ice grains contain a rich array of minerals and organic compounds linked to life as we know it. Christopher Glein of the Southwest Research Institute, one of the paper's co-authors, said: "This is a stunning discovery for astrobiology. We have found abundant phosphorus in plume ice samples spraying out of the subsurface ocean." Watch: Gravitas Plus: Is America hiding Alien technology? × Also read: Alien connection of Vatican? Pentagon whistleblower says Church involved in first-ever UFO crash Why is phosphorus key element for life? NASA said in its report that phosphorus, which is the least abundant of the essential elements necessary for biological processes, hadn't been detected until now. It is a building block for DNA, which forms chromosomes and carries genetic information and is present in the bones of mammals, cell membranes, and ocean-dwelling plankton. According to NASA's report, phosphorus is also a fundamental part of energy-carrying molecules present in all life on Earth. As quoted by NASA, Frank Postberg, a planetary scientist at Freie Universität Berlin, Germany, said, "We previously found that Enceladus' ocean is rich in a variety of organic compounds." Postberg, who led the new study, further said, "But now, this new result reveals the clear chemical signature of substantial amounts of phosphorus salts inside icy particles ejected into space by the small moon's plume. It's the first time this essential element has been discovered in an ocean beyond Earth." WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

‘Stunning discovery’ says life possible on Saturn’s moon. Hunt for extraterrestrials gets major boost

<p>Space is astounding. Every day, scientists make amazing, momentous discoveries that leave us the ones stuck on Earth a little more in awe. One such latest discovery has been made on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has glimpsed the moon spraying a "huge plume" of watery vapour far into space. Researchers believe that this plume very likely contains chemical components necessary for life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The eruption was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in November 2022 and was presented at a conference at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore on May 17.</p>

<p>As per Nature.com, Sara Faggi, a planetary astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said the plume is "immense".&nbsp;</p>

<p>She said that a comprehensive research paper on this significant event is currently pending.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Is this the first time scientists spotted these water spouts?</strong></h2>

<p>This may come as a surprise, but this isn't actually the first time scientists have seen Enceladus spouting water into space.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the JWST's wider perspective and higher sensitivity have added to the amazement. It revealed that the jets of vapour extend much deeper into space than previously thought, surpassing the moon's own span multiple times. Enceladus has a diameter of approximately 313 miles (504 kilometres).</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-nasa-finds-strong-cyclone-swirling-on-north-pole-of-uranus-597230">In a first, NASA finds strong cyclone swirling on north pole of Uranus</a></strong></p>

<h2>When did scientists first observe Enceladus' watery eruptions?</h2>

<p>As per Space.com, the original discovery of Enceladus' watery eruptions dates back to 2005 when NASA's Cassini spacecraft observed icy particles being propelled through large cracks on the moon's surface known as "tiger stripes."&nbsp;</p>

<p>The intensity of these blasts is so powerful that the ejected material forms one of Saturn's rings.</p>

<h2>What is so special about water being spouted into space?</h2>

<p>Analysis of the jets revealed the presence of methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia—organic molecules that contain the necessary building blocks for life.</p>

<p>In fact, researchers proposed in a study published last year in The Planetary Science Journal that some of these gases might be produced by life itself, emanating from deep within Enceladus.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/stars-to-become-invisible-in-two-decades-due-to-light-pollution-warn-scientists-597456">Stars to become invisible in two decades due to light pollution, warn scientists</a></strong></p>

<p>Additionally, the water on Enceladus supports the possibility of life. While the moon is covered in a thick layer of water ice, measurements of its rotation indicate the presence of a vast hidden ocean beneath the frozen surface.</p>

<p>Scientists believe that the water jets detected by the JWST and Cassini originate from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of silica in the vapour plumes — a common component of planetary crusts.</p>

<h2><strong>Missions to find alien life on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus</strong></h2>

<p>To gain confirmation of the alien life and more, NASA scientists are currently discussing future missions to Enceladus to search for signs of life.&nbsp;</p>

<p>One proposed mission is the Enceladus Orbilander, which would orbit the moon for about six months, traversing through its watery plumes and collecting samples. The spacecraft would then transform into a lander and descend onto the icy moon's surface, equipped with instruments to weigh, and analyse molecules, and even a DNA sequencer and microscope. Cameras, radio sounders, and lasers would remotely explore the moon's surface.</p>

<p>Another mission concept involves deploying an autonomous "snake robot" called the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor into the submerged depths of Enceladus. This robot, equipped with cameras and lidar, would navigate the unknown environment of Enceladus' ocean floor in search of signs of life.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Space is astounding. Every day, scientists make amazing, momentous discoveries that leave us the ones stuck on Earth a little more in awe. One such latest discovery has been made on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus.

Space is astounding. Every day, scientists make amazing, momentous discoveries that leave us the ones stuck on Earth a little more in awe. One such latest discovery has been made on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus. NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has glimpsed the moon spraying a "huge plume" of watery vapour far into space. Researchers believe that this plume very likely contains chemical components necessary for life. The eruption was detected by the James Webb Space Telescope in November 2022 and was presented at a conference at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore on May 17. As per Nature.com, Sara Faggi, a planetary astronomer at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, said the plume is "immense". She said that a comprehensive research paper on this significant event is currently pending. Is this the first time scientists spotted these water spouts? This may come as a surprise, but this isn't actually the first time scientists have seen Enceladus spouting water into space. However, the JWST's wider perspective and higher sensitivity have added to the amazement. It revealed that the jets of vapour extend much deeper into space than previously thought, surpassing the moon's own span multiple times. Enceladus has a diameter of approximately 313 miles (504 kilometres). Also read | In a first, NASA finds strong cyclone swirling on north pole of Uranus When did scientists first observe Enceladus' watery eruptions? As per Space.com, the original discovery of Enceladus' watery eruptions dates back to 2005 when NASA's Cassini spacecraft observed icy particles being propelled through large cracks on the moon's surface known as "tiger stripes." The intensity of these blasts is so powerful that the ejected material forms one of Saturn's rings. What is so special about water being spouted into space? Analysis of the jets revealed the presence of methane, carbon dioxide, and ammonia—organic molecules that contain the necessary building blocks for life. In fact, researchers proposed in a study published last year in The Planetary Science Journal that some of these gases might be produced by life itself, emanating from deep within Enceladus. Also read | Stars to become invisible in two decades due to light pollution, warn scientists Additionally, the water on Enceladus supports the possibility of life. While the moon is covered in a thick layer of water ice, measurements of its rotation indicate the presence of a vast hidden ocean beneath the frozen surface. Scientists believe that the water jets detected by the JWST and Cassini originate from hydrothermal vents on the ocean floor. This hypothesis is supported by the presence of silica in the vapour plumes — a common component of planetary crusts. Missions to find alien life on Saturn's icy moon Enceladus To gain confirmation of the alien life and more, NASA scientists are currently discussing future missions to Enceladus to search for signs of life. One proposed mission is the Enceladus Orbilander, which would orbit the moon for about six months, traversing through its watery plumes and collecting samples. The spacecraft would then transform into a lander and descend onto the icy moon's surface, equipped with instruments to weigh, and analyse molecules, and even a DNA sequencer and microscope. Cameras, radio sounders, and lasers would remotely explore the moon's surface. Another mission concept involves deploying an autonomous "snake robot" called the Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor into the submerged depths of Enceladus. This robot, equipped with cameras and lidar, would navigate the unknown environment of Enceladus' ocean floor in search of signs of life. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

NASA's James Webb Telescope spots Saturn's moon blasting 'huge plumes' of life-containing water into space

<p>Saturn's rings are mad beautiful. And the fact that they can be observed with basic stargazing equipment has meant that astronomers even in the medieval times were able to observe them with not-so-advanced technology of the times. But there's more to Saturn than just rings. The most unique planet in our solar system has a large number of satellites one of which, has long piqued scientific interest for search for extraterrestrial life.</p>

<p>Enceladus, one of Saturn's satellites is unique in a way that it has an icy surface. The laws of physics say that where there is ice, there are very high chances of water underneath. And where there is water, there is life, at least as per our most conventional scientific understanding.</p>

<p>Drilling ice on earth is challenging enough, how to do that on a surface that's literally millions of kilometres away? NASA has a unique solution.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The space agency is planning to send a snake-like robot to check out surface of Enceladus.</p>

<p>The snake-robot has a long winding name. Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS). It is being developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).</p>

<p>According to JPL , EELS is a "snake-like, self-propelled robot". It is made of segments with "first-of-a-kind rotating propulsion units". These will help it to grip surfaces and even move underwater.</p>

<p>This robotic snake is 16-foot long and weighs 220 pounds. At its head, EELS has machinery that'll help it map Enceladus in 3D. It'll send real time images. The body of EELS will have a payload that'll enable scientists to measure the sub-surface pressure.</p>

<p>JPL is currently testing the robot. As per media reports, the robot underwent testing at Athabasca Glacier in Canada's Jasper National Park.</p>

<p>"We are early in the project, but it is achievable in our lifetime," EELS Deputy Project Manager Rachel Etheredge said last year, as quoted by CBS News. "...It's an ambitious collaboration, and we're motived by the shared excitement we have for this concept, and the potential science we could gather with EELS."</p>

<p>"The EELS system is a mobile instrument platform conceived to explore internal terrain structures, assess habitability and ultimately search for evidence of life," NASA says of its development. "It is designed to be adaptable to traverse ocean-world-inspired terrain, fluidised media, enclosed labyrinthian environments and liquids."</p>

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Saturn's rings are mad beautiful. And the fact that they can be observed with basic stargazing equipment has meant that astronomers even in the medieval times were able to observe them with not-so-advanced technology of the times.

Saturn's rings are mad beautiful. And the fact that they can be observed with basic stargazing equipment has meant that astronomers even in the medieval times were able to observe them with not-so-advanced technology of the times. But there's more to Saturn than just rings. The most unique planet in our solar system has a large number of satellites one of which, has long piqued scientific interest for search for extraterrestrial life. Enceladus, one of Saturn's satellites is unique in a way that it has an icy surface. The laws of physics say that where there is ice, there are very high chances of water underneath. And where there is water, there is life, at least as per our most conventional scientific understanding. Drilling ice on earth is challenging enough, how to do that on a surface that's literally millions of kilometres away? NASA has a unique solution. The space agency is planning to send a snake-like robot to check out surface of Enceladus. The snake-robot has a long winding name. Exobiology Extant Life Surveyor (EELS). It is being developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). According to JPL , EELS is a "snake-like, self-propelled robot". It is made of segments with "first-of-a-kind rotating propulsion units". These will help it to grip surfaces and even move underwater. This robotic snake is 16-foot long and weighs 220 pounds. At its head, EELS has machinery that'll help it map Enceladus in 3D. It'll send real time images. The body of EELS will have a payload that'll enable scientists to measure the sub-surface pressure. JPL is currently testing the robot. As per media reports, the robot underwent testing at Athabasca Glacier in Canada's Jasper National Park. "We are early in the project, but it is achievable in our lifetime," EELS Deputy Project Manager Rachel Etheredge said last year, as quoted by CBS News. "...It's an ambitious collaboration, and we're motived by the shared excitement we have for this concept, and the potential science we could gather with EELS." "The EELS system is a mobile instrument platform conceived to explore internal terrain structures, assess habitability and ultimately search for evidence of life," NASA says of its development. "It is designed to be adaptable to traverse ocean-world-inspired terrain, fluidised media, enclosed labyrinthian environments and liquids." You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

NASA to send 'snake-robot' to find alien life on Saturn's icy moon

<p>The fascinating rings of Saturn, which makes it different from the rest of the planets in a milky way, may become a thing of the past as these rings are now disappearing.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Saturn, nearly 1.5 billion kilometres away from Earth, has always mesmerised astronomers with its beautiful rings, making the planet not only a humongous size but also nine times wider than Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>However, the rings are now in danger and disappearing slowly. Researchers stated that Saturn's rings are made up of large pieces of ice which are now eroding and added that they find it difficult to predict how long the rings will last.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The ice chunks from rings have been falling as icy rain on the planet because of the intense gravity of Saturn. The downpour is now happening at such a high rate that water, which can fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, rains daily on the gas giant.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |</strong> <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/discovery-of-saturn-like-ring-around-trans-neptunian-object-quaoar-amazes-astronomers-560149">Discovery of Saturn-like ring around trans-Neptunian object Quaoar amazes astronomers</a></p>

<p>This is leading to thinning of mysterious rings circling the planet which has left the astronomers amazed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“We’re still trying to figure out exactly how fast they are eroding," Dr James O’Donoghue, who is heading the research into the disappearing rings of Saturn, said in a statement.</p>

<p>While mostly it is believed that the rings were a part of the planet from the start, it is not actually correct. The rings around Saturn are only 100 million years old which although looks like a long time on a cosmic scale, is not very long.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Scientists are now studying to understand the future of the rings around Saturn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Although research suggests that the rings may disappear in another 100 million years, Dr James O’Donoghue calls it a "quick death."</p>

<p><strong>WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life</strong></p>

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<p>“Currently, research suggests the rings will only be part of Saturn for another few hundred million years. This may sound like a long time, but in the history of the universe, this is a relatively quick death. We could be very lucky to be around at a time when the rings exist," O’Donoghue stated.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team has been making efforts to get the James Webb Space Telescope which will help them delve deeper into the mystery of the rings of Saturn.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Studies suggest that the rings are pieces of asteroids, comets or shattered moons which broke up before reaching the planet as they were crushed by the strong gravity of the planet. "The ring particles mostly range from tiny, dust-sized icy grains to chunks as big as a house. A few particles are as large as mountains," stated NASA.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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The fascinating rings of Saturn, which makes it different from the rest of the planets in a milky way, may become a thing of the past as these rings are now disappearing.

The fascinating rings of Saturn, which makes it different from the rest of the planets in a milky way, may become a thing of the past as these rings are now disappearing. Saturn, nearly 1.5 billion kilometres away from Earth, has always mesmerised astronomers with its beautiful rings, making the planet not only a humongous size but also nine times wider than Earth. However, the rings are now in danger and disappearing slowly. Researchers stated that Saturn's rings are made up of large pieces of ice which are now eroding and added that they find it difficult to predict how long the rings will last. The ice chunks from rings have been falling as icy rain on the planet because of the intense gravity of Saturn. The downpour is now happening at such a high rate that water, which can fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool, rains daily on the gas giant. ALSO READ | Discovery of Saturn-like ring around trans-Neptunian object Quaoar amazes astronomers This is leading to thinning of mysterious rings circling the planet which has left the astronomers amazed. “We’re still trying to figure out exactly how fast they are eroding," Dr James O’Donoghue, who is heading the research into the disappearing rings of Saturn, said in a statement. While mostly it is believed that the rings were a part of the planet from the start, it is not actually correct. The rings around Saturn are only 100 million years old which although looks like a long time on a cosmic scale, is not very long. Scientists are now studying to understand the future of the rings around Saturn. Although research suggests that the rings may disappear in another 100 million years, Dr James O’Donoghue calls it a "quick death." WATCH | NASA mission to Saturn's moon Titan may unravel secrets behind origin of life “Currently, research suggests the rings will only be part of Saturn for another few hundred million years. This may sound like a long time, but in the history of the universe, this is a relatively quick death. We could be very lucky to be around at a time when the rings exist," O’Donoghue stated. The team has been making efforts to get the James Webb Space Telescope which will help them delve deeper into the mystery of the rings of Saturn. Studies suggest that the rings are pieces of asteroids, comets or shattered moons which broke up before reaching the planet as they were crushed by the strong gravity of the planet. "The ring particles mostly range from tiny, dust-sized icy grains to chunks as big as a house. A few particles are as large as mountains," stated NASA. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE

Saturn’s mesmerising rings vanishing, further aggravate its cosmic identity crisis

<p>The search for alien life has been the preoccupation of mankind for several centuries. There can always be an obscure planet hundreds of lightyears away that could harbour life but there are worthy candidates in our Solar System itself. Saturn's moon Enceladus is one of them.&nbsp;Enceladus is an icy world and scientists think the under its icy surface, there is a vast global ocean. It is almost an equation that where there's water, there's life. But how do we know for sure whether Enceladus hides life under its icy sheets.</p>

<p>The answer to this question is not as easy. At its thinnest, the ice cover is at least five kilometres thick. Drilling through these thick ice sheets and swimming in the ocean underneath is an extremely hard task. Enceladus is half a Solar System away. And drilling 5 kilometres through ice is a challenging task here on Earth to start with. Imagine doing it on some other planet's moon.</p>

<p>But scientists now think that we may not have to drill through ice to check whether life exists in the oceans of Enceladus. A probe would not even have to land on the surface.</p>

<p>Water plumes have been seen erupting from the surface of Enceladus. These go hundreds of kilometres into space. Scientists think that analysis of this water may give us indication of whether or not life exists in Enceladus' oceans.</p>

<p>Just as how life exists deep, deep in Earth's oceans where sunlight does not reach, the oceans of Enceladus may have some heat source. And life may well exist.</p>

<p>But we may have to only wonder whether there are aliens there, till we make a spacecraft capable of hovering above Enceladus analysing water from the plumes.</p>

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The search for alien life has been the preoccupation of mankind for several centuries. There can always be an obscure planet hundreds of lightyears away that could harbour life but there are worthy candidates in our Solar System itself.

The search for alien life has been the preoccupation of mankind for several centuries. There can always be an obscure planet hundreds of lightyears away that could harbour life but there are worthy candidates in our Solar System itself. Saturn's moon Enceladus is one of them. Enceladus is an icy world and scientists think the under its icy surface, there is a vast global ocean. It is almost an equation that where there's water, there's life. But how do we know for sure whether Enceladus hides life under its icy sheets. The answer to this question is not as easy. At its thinnest, the ice cover is at least five kilometres thick. Drilling through these thick ice sheets and swimming in the ocean underneath is an extremely hard task. Enceladus is half a Solar System away. And drilling 5 kilometres through ice is a challenging task here on Earth to start with. Imagine doing it on some other planet's moon. But scientists now think that we may not have to drill through ice to check whether life exists in the oceans of Enceladus. A probe would not even have to land on the surface. Water plumes have been seen erupting from the surface of Enceladus. These go hundreds of kilometres into space. Scientists think that analysis of this water may give us indication of whether or not life exists in Enceladus' oceans. Just as how life exists deep, deep in Earth's oceans where sunlight does not reach, the oceans of Enceladus may have some heat source. And life may well exist. But we may have to only wonder whether there are aliens there, till we make a spacecraft capable of hovering above Enceladus analysing water from the plumes. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Does Saturn's moon have alien life under ice layer? We may be able to find out without landing on it

<p>On Wednesday, astronomy buffs witnessed what experts regard as a rare astronomical event where all the planets in the solar system were visible in the night sky.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the Northern Hemisphere, Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars could be seen with the naked eye. While, the two outermost planets, Uranus and Neptune could be seen using binoculars or telescopes and would be visible until the end of the year.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/china-develops-lobster-eye-telescope-to-scan-the-murky-depths-of-the-universe-547044">China develops 'lobster eye' telescope to scan the murky depths of the universe</a></strong></p>

<p>Such "grand tours" as per Space happen roughly once every one or two years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per Guardian, all eight planets appeared only 1.5 degrees apart on Wednesday night and will reach their closest point or conjunction today (Thursday, December 29) at 2100 GMT (0230 IST).</p>

<p><strong>Watch |&nbsp;NASA's Dart mission: The world's first planetary defence</strong></p>

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<p>Talking to Newsweek, Gianluca Masi, an astronomer with the Virtual Telescope Project in Italy, said "These nights, we can see all the planets of our solar system at a glance, soon after sunset. It happens from time to time, but it is always a spectacular sight."</p>

<p>In June, skywatchers were treated to a similar but rarer alignment of five planets, where Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were arranged in an alignment the likes of which hadn't occurred in about 150 years, or since 1864.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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On Wednesday, astronomy buffs witnessed what experts regard as a rare astronomical event where all the planets in the solar system were visible in the night sky.

On Wednesday, astronomy buffs witnessed what experts regard as a rare astronomical event where all the planets in the solar system were visible in the night sky. In the Northern Hemisphere, Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Jupiter and Mars could be seen with the naked eye. While, the two outermost planets, Uranus and Neptune could be seen using binoculars or telescopes and would be visible until the end of the year. Also read | China develops 'lobster eye' telescope to scan the murky depths of the universe Such "grand tours" as per Space happen roughly once every one or two years. As per Guardian, all eight planets appeared only 1.5 degrees apart on Wednesday night and will reach their closest point or conjunction today (Thursday, December 29) at 2100 GMT (0230 IST). Watch | NASA's Dart mission: The world's first planetary defence Talking to Newsweek, Gianluca Masi, an astronomer with the Virtual Telescope Project in Italy, said "These nights, we can see all the planets of our solar system at a glance, soon after sunset. It happens from time to time, but it is always a spectacular sight." In June, skywatchers were treated to a similar but rarer alignment of five planets, where Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn were arranged in an alignment the likes of which hadn't occurred in about 150 years, or since 1864. (With inputs from agencies) WATCH WION LIVE HERE You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here.

Rare 'treat' for skywatchers: All solar system planets visible to the naked eye

<p>In what can be a boost to our efforts to search for alien life, scientists have found that Enceladus, a satellite of Saturn, has building blocks of life present under its surface. Enceladus is a frozen world the surface of which is covered with ice. Scientists think that there are oceans of liquid water below the surface, oceans that possible have life within them.</p>

<p>Now, modelling has indicated that the ocean on Enceladus is rich in dissolved phosphorus, which is an essential ingredient for life. The study has been published in &nbsp;Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS).</p>

<p>“Enceladus is one of the prime targets in humanity’s search for life in our solar system. In the years since NASA’s Cassini spacecraft visited the Saturn system, we have been repeatedly blown away by the discoveries made possible by the collected data,” said Christopher Glein, co-author of the paper, in a press statement. He is an extraterrestrial oceanography expert.</p>

<p>“What we have learned is that the plume contains almost all the basic requirements of life as we know it. While the bioessential element phosphorus has yet to be identified directly, our team discovered evidence for its availability in the ocean beneath the moon’s icy crust,” added Glein.</p>

<p>Presence of water significantly increases chances for life thriving on a planet or a satellite. There are many frozen worlds in our Solar System. Europa, a satellite of Jupiter is another example of a frozen world that scientists suspect has a liquid ocean under the surface.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/james-webb-telescope-captures-detailed-image-of-neptune-and-its-delicate-dusty-rings-518584">James Webb telescope captures detailed image of Neptune and its delicate, dusty rings</a></strong></p>

<p>“The quest for extraterrestrial habitability in the solar system has shifted focus, as we now look for the building blocks for life, including organic molecules, ammonia, sulfur-bearing compounds as well as the chemical energy needed to support life. Phosphorus presents an interesting case because previous work suggested that it might be scarce in the ocean of Enceladus, which would dim the prospects for life,” explained Glein.</p>

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In what can be a boost to our efforts to search for alien life, scientists have found that Enceladus, a satellite of Saturn, has building blocks of life present under its surface.

In what can be a boost to our efforts to search for alien life, scientists have found that Enceladus, a satellite of Saturn, has building blocks of life present under its surface. Enceladus is a frozen world the surface of which is covered with ice. Scientists think that there are oceans of liquid water below the surface, oceans that possible have life within them. Now, modelling has indicated that the ocean on Enceladus is rich in dissolved phosphorus, which is an essential ingredient for life. The study has been published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS). “Enceladus is one of the prime targets in humanity’s search for life in our solar system. In the years since NASA’s Cassini spacecraft visited the Saturn system, we have been repeatedly blown away by the discoveries made possible by the collected data,” said Christopher Glein, co-author of the paper, in a press statement. He is an extraterrestrial oceanography expert. “What we have learned is that the plume contains almost all the basic requirements of life as we know it. While the bioessential element phosphorus has yet to be identified directly, our team discovered evidence for its availability in the ocean beneath the moon’s icy crust,” added Glein. Presence of water significantly increases chances for life thriving on a planet or a satellite. There are many frozen worlds in our Solar System. Europa, a satellite of Jupiter is another example of a frozen world that scientists suspect has a liquid ocean under the surface. Also Read | James Webb telescope captures detailed image of Neptune and its delicate, dusty rings “The quest for extraterrestrial habitability in the solar system has shifted focus, as we now look for the building blocks for life, including organic molecules, ammonia, sulfur-bearing compounds as well as the chemical energy needed to support life. Phosphorus presents an interesting case because previous work suggested that it might be scarce in the ocean of Enceladus, which would dim the prospects for life,” explained Glein. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Chances of alien life on Saturn's moon recently got a boost

<p>A new study, published in the prestigious journal Science, reveals how the rings of Saturn were formed.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After getting a little too close to the gas giant, an icy moon they named Chrysalis broke up between 100-200 million years ago.</p>

<p>Some of its fragments broke into small icy chunks that form the planet's signature rings while most of it made an impact with Saturn.</p>

<p>According to the lead author of the study, Jack Wisdom, professor of planetary sciences at MIT, "It's nice to find a plausible explanation."</p>

<p>At the beginning of the solar system, the planet Saturn&nbsp;formed four and a half billion years ago but its rings appeared only approximately 100 million years ago.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/in-pics-why-nasa-is-trying-to-send-astronauts-to-the-moon-once-again-514850" hreflang="en">In pics - Why NASA is trying to send astronauts to the moon once again</a></strong></p>

<p>After orbiting Saturn from 2004 to 2017, the Cassini probe made similar observations but the recent study has reinforced them.</p>

<p>Allowing them to better understand another characteristic, Wisdom and colleagues found an explanation by constructing complex mathematical models.</p>

<p>Although Saturn is a gas giant, it has a tilt of 26.7 degrees and one of its largest moons called Titan is migrating away from the planet.</p>

<p>Astronomers believe that this will impact the rate at which Saturn's axis of tilt loops around the vertical.</p>

<p>Creating a powerful gravitational interaction called "resonance," this wobble frequency came into sync with Neptune's wobbly orbit.</p>

<p>Likening the emergence of Saturn's rings to a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, the missing Moon was baptised Chrysalis by MIT's Wisdom.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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A new study, published in the prestigious journal Science, reveals how the rings of Saturn were formed. After getting a little too close to the gas giant, an icy moon they named Chrysalis broke up between 100-200 million years ago.

A new study, published in the prestigious journal Science, reveals how the rings of Saturn were formed. After getting a little too close to the gas giant, an icy moon they named Chrysalis broke up between 100-200 million years ago. Some of its fragments broke into small icy chunks that form the planet's signature rings while most of it made an impact with Saturn. According to the lead author of the study, Jack Wisdom, professor of planetary sciences at MIT, "It's nice to find a plausible explanation." At the beginning of the solar system, the planet Saturn formed four and a half billion years ago but its rings appeared only approximately 100 million years ago. In pics - Why NASA is trying to send astronauts to the moon once again After orbiting Saturn from 2004 to 2017, the Cassini probe made similar observations but the recent study has reinforced them. Allowing them to better understand another characteristic, Wisdom and colleagues found an explanation by constructing complex mathematical models. Although Saturn is a gas giant, it has a tilt of 26.7 degrees and one of its largest moons called Titan is migrating away from the planet. Astronomers believe that this will impact the rate at which Saturn's axis of tilt loops around the vertical. Creating a powerful gravitational interaction called "resonance," this wobble frequency came into sync with Neptune's wobbly orbit. Likening the emergence of Saturn's rings to a butterfly emerging from a cocoon, the missing Moon was baptised Chrysalis by MIT's Wisdom. (With inputs from agencies) Watch WION's live TV here: ×

Study reveals how rings of Saturn were formed

<p>What distinguishes Saturn from the rest of the planets in our Solar System are the majestic rings the planet has. These rings are so prominent, they are visible from amateur telescopes as well. The planet sure gets a regal look due to it. But what is stopping from all planets to have such a ring? size? Saturn is a giant planet in our Solar System. But so is Jupiter, in fact, Jupiter is bigger than Saturn, then why it does not have Saturn-like rings?</p>

<p>A recent study from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) throws light on the reason why Jupiter does not have Saturn-like rings. Findings of this study were reported in the journal Planetary Science.</p>

<p>UCR astrophysicist Stephen Kane led the study along with his student. Together, they ran a simulation. Into the simulation, they fed info about orbits of Jupiter's four moons and the orbit of the planet itself. They also fed information about how much time it takes to form rings around the planet.</p>

<p>Kane found that the reason why Jupiter could not form Saturn-like moon was its moons. Jupiter has four main moons that were discovered by Galileo.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-posts-colourful-pic-of-pluto-wows-netizens-499450">NASA posts colourful pic of Pluto, wows netizens</a></strong></p>

<p>We found that the Galilean moons of Jupiter, one of which is the largest moon in our solar system, would very quickly destroy any large rings that might form," Kane said.</p>

<p>So based on this research, it can be said that Jupiter did not have Saturn-like rings even in its past.</p>

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What distinguishes Saturn from the rest of the planets in our Solar System are the majestic rings the planet has. These rings are so prominent, they are visible from amateur telescopes as well.

What distinguishes Saturn from the rest of the planets in our Solar System are the majestic rings the planet has. These rings are so prominent, they are visible from amateur telescopes as well. The planet sure gets a regal look due to it. But what is stopping from all planets to have such a ring? size? Saturn is a giant planet in our Solar System. But so is Jupiter, in fact, Jupiter is bigger than Saturn, then why it does not have Saturn-like rings? A recent study from the University of California, Riverside (UCR) throws light on the reason why Jupiter does not have Saturn-like rings. Findings of this study were reported in the journal Planetary Science. UCR astrophysicist Stephen Kane led the study along with his student. Together, they ran a simulation. Into the simulation, they fed info about orbits of Jupiter's four moons and the orbit of the planet itself. They also fed information about how much time it takes to form rings around the planet. Kane found that the reason why Jupiter could not form Saturn-like moon was its moons. Jupiter has four main moons that were discovered by Galileo. Also Read | NASA posts colourful pic of Pluto, wows netizens We found that the Galilean moons of Jupiter, one of which is the largest moon in our solar system, would very quickly destroy any large rings that might form," Kane said. So based on this research, it can be said that Jupiter did not have Saturn-like rings even in its past. You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Why doesn't Jupiter have Saturn-like rings? Here's the answer

<p>In what can be called a rare celestial spectacle, the solar system’s two brightest planets, Jupiter and Venus, will appear to collide with each other this weekend, said media reports. &nbsp;</p>

<p>But they will actually be millions of miles apart in space. &nbsp;</p>

<p>On Earth, they will appear as if they are going to collide. This planetary conjunction, however, occurs once a year. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/revisiting-prehistoric-era-fossils-of-3-ichthyosaurs-including-giant-tooth-found-in-swiss-alps-says-study-474679" hreflang="en">Revisiting prehistoric era: Fossils of 3 ichthyosaurs including giant tooth found in Swiss Alps, says study</a></strong></p>

<p>These planets will look much closer to stargazers than usual this year. This time, they would also be visible with a pair of binoculars or the naked eye. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">On the morning of April 30th, Jupiter and Venus will appear to collide in the sky as both planets merge into one spectacular glow. Despite looking very close together, the two planets are very far apart in space. Venus is closer to the sun than Earth and Jupiter is farther out. <a href="https://t.co/BIFALMqMnA">pic.twitter.com/BIFALMqMnA</a></p>
— Rev. Dr. Michael T Santini (@michaeltsantini) <a href="https://twitter.com/michaeltsantini/status/1519760368104398848?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 28, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>What makes it more special is the fact that with these planets, Saturn and Mars will appear to form a straight line. &nbsp;</p>

<p>You may not want to miss it this year as otherwise you will have to wait for another 17 years for it. &nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Low-cost bionic prosthetics arm equipped with sensors is transforming lives</strong></p>

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<p>So, this would be an extraordinary planetary conjunction, which will be hard to miss. &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Although Venus and Jupiter get close to one another every few years, this time there is also Mars and Saturn in the mix which is pretty rare. If you have a telescope, a pair of binoculars or a decent camera, then you’ll get an even better view,” Brad Tucker, astrophysicist, Australian National University told the Guardian. &nbsp;</p>

<p>“The planets will differ in their brightness. Venus is brighter than Jupiter so it will look dazzlingly bright when you see it. Jupiter will be slightly fainter, about one-sixth of the brightness of Venus,” Prof Lucie Green, chief stargazer, Society for Popular Astronomy told BBC News. &nbsp;</p>

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<p><em>(With inputs from agencies) &nbsp;</em></p>


In what can be called a rare celestial spectacle, the solar system’s two brightest planets, Jupiter and Venus, will appear to collide with each other this weekend, said media reports.

In what can be called a rare celestial spectacle, the solar system’s two brightest planets, Jupiter and Venus, will appear to collide with each other this weekend, said media reports. But they will actually be millions of miles apart in space. On Earth, they will appear as if they are going to collide. This planetary conjunction, however, occurs once a year. Also Read | Revisiting prehistoric era: Fossils of 3 ichthyosaurs including giant tooth found in Swiss Alps, says study These planets will look much closer to stargazers than usual this year. This time, they would also be visible with a pair of binoculars or the naked eye. On the morning of April 30th, Jupiter and Venus will appear to collide in the sky as both planets merge into one spectacular glow. Despite looking very close together, the two planets are very far apart in space. Venus is closer to the sun than Earth and Jupiter is farther out. pic.twitter.com/BIFALMqMnA — Rev. Dr. Michael T Santini (@michaeltsantini) April 28, 2022 × What makes it more special is the fact that with these planets, Saturn and Mars will appear to form a straight line. You may not want to miss it this year as otherwise you will have to wait for another 17 years for it. Watch: Low-cost bionic prosthetics arm equipped with sensors is transforming lives × So, this would be an extraordinary planetary conjunction, which will be hard to miss. “Although Venus and Jupiter get close to one another every few years, this time there is also Mars and Saturn in the mix which is pretty rare. If you have a telescope, a pair of binoculars or a decent camera, then you’ll get an even better view,” Brad Tucker, astrophysicist, Australian National University told the Guardian. “The planets will differ in their brightness. Venus is brighter than Jupiter so it will look dazzlingly bright when you see it. Jupiter will be slightly fainter, about one-sixth of the brightness of Venus,” Prof Lucie Green, chief stargazer, Society for Popular Astronomy told BBC News. WATCH WION LIVE HERE (With inputs from agencies)

Rare celestial spectacle: Jupiter, Venus to appear to collide with each other, form line with Saturn, Mars

<p>Scientists are enthusiastic about establishing colonies on Mars, but is that a good idea? There have been claims and counterclaims over the possibility of living on Mars. Experts have noted that it's a planet where you cannot breathe.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The idea to find a place more Earth-like in the solar system is quite unreal, but not entirely. Titan, which is Saturn's largest Moon believed to be surprisingly similar to Earth.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Previous probes have concluded that Titan is the only Moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It provides it with Earth-like weather phenomena. On Titan, methane rainfall converts into rivers, which later form lakes.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/presence-of-alien-tech-on-earth-scientist-wants-to-probe-interstellar-object-lying-in-the-pacific-ocean-473699">Presence of alien tech on Earth? Scientist wants to probe interstellar object 'lying in the Pacific Ocean'</a></strong></p>

<p>The rain, which is basically liquid methane, falls through nitrogen winds, experts have found.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a new model given by planetary scientists, another feature was found to be similar such as landscape formations.&nbsp;The findings are reported in Geophysical Research Letters.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As per a team of planetary scientists from Stanford University in California, materials produce hydrocarbon sand dunes. Scientists have found that the dunes are different to silicate sedimentary structures.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The team also explained that it was quite intriguing to observe the formation of the sand dunes, close to the rivers, lakes and oceans filled with liquid methane.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After creating a series of computer models, which further revealed that Titan has an Earth-like seasonal cycle within the atmosphere.&nbsp;</p>

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<p><em>Mosaics of Titan imaged by NASA's Cassini probe. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona)</em></p>

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<p>The phenomenon drives the movement of grains over the Moon's surface. Such movement led to the formation of dunes and plains after clumps of hydrocarbons come together.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The study noted that "sediments on Saturn's Moon are thought to largely consist of mechanically weak organic grains, prone to rapid abrasion into dust."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Significantly, scientists see Titan as one of the main candidates for future human colonisation because of the Earth-like phenomena.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;What’s special about these astronauts returning to earth from space?</strong></p>

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<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sounds-bizarre-but-this-woman-is-seriously-scared-of-aliens-after-nine-ufo-sightings-474361">Sounds BIZARRE but this woman is seriously scared of aliens after 'nine UFO sightings'</a></strong></p>

<p>Mathieu Lapôtre, geologist and study lead author said, "Our model adds a unifying framework that allows us to understand how all of these sedimentary environments work together."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Lapôtre, an assistant professor of geological sciences at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy &amp; Environmental Sciences added, "If we understand how the different pieces of the puzzle fit together and their mechanics, then we can start using the landforms left behind by those sedimentary processes to say something about the climate or the geological history of Titan—and how they could impact the prospect for life on Titan."&nbsp;</p>

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Scientists are enthusiastic about establishing colonies on Mars, but is that a good idea? There have been claims and counterclaims over the possibility of living on Mars.

Scientists are enthusiastic about establishing colonies on Mars, but is that a good idea? There have been claims and counterclaims over the possibility of living on Mars. Experts have noted that it's a planet where you cannot breathe. The idea to find a place more Earth-like in the solar system is quite unreal, but not entirely. Titan, which is Saturn's largest Moon believed to be surprisingly similar to Earth. Previous probes have concluded that Titan is the only Moon in the Solar System with a dense atmosphere. It provides it with Earth-like weather phenomena. On Titan, methane rainfall converts into rivers, which later form lakes. ALSO READ | Presence of alien tech on Earth? Scientist wants to probe interstellar object 'lying in the Pacific Ocean' The rain, which is basically liquid methane, falls through nitrogen winds, experts have found. As per a new model given by planetary scientists, another feature was found to be similar such as landscape formations. The findings are reported in Geophysical Research Letters. As per a team of planetary scientists from Stanford University in California, materials produce hydrocarbon sand dunes. Scientists have found that the dunes are different to silicate sedimentary structures. The team also explained that it was quite intriguing to observe the formation of the sand dunes, close to the rivers, lakes and oceans filled with liquid methane. After creating a series of computer models, which further revealed that Titan has an Earth-like seasonal cycle within the atmosphere. Mosaics of Titan imaged by NASA's Cassini probe. (NASA/JPL/University of Arizona) × The phenomenon drives the movement of grains over the Moon's surface. Such movement led to the formation of dunes and plains after clumps of hydrocarbons come together. The study noted that "sediments on Saturn's Moon are thought to largely consist of mechanically weak organic grains, prone to rapid abrasion into dust." Significantly, scientists see Titan as one of the main candidates for future human colonisation because of the Earth-like phenomena. WATCH | What’s special about these astronauts returning to earth from space? × ALSO READ | Sounds BIZARRE but this woman is seriously scared of aliens after 'nine UFO sightings' Mathieu Lapôtre, geologist and study lead author said, "Our model adds a unifying framework that allows us to understand how all of these sedimentary environments work together." Lapôtre, an assistant professor of geological sciences at Stanford's School of Earth, Energy & Environmental Sciences added, "If we understand how the different pieces of the puzzle fit together and their mechanics, then we can start using the landforms left behind by those sedimentary processes to say something about the climate or the geological history of Titan—and how they could impact the prospect for life on Titan." WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Fascinating fact: Saturn Moon Titan has Earth-like landscape

<p>A treat for the stargazers!&nbsp;</p>

<p>An alignment of four planets in our solar system will appear in the sky this month, a rare phenomenon that attracts skywatchers and space enthusiasts who are keen to witness various celestial events.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The planetary alignment of Mars, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter can be seen not only using telescopes but will be visible to the naked eye.&nbsp;</p>

<p>National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said, "By mid-month, Jupiter is starting to rise in the pre-dawn hour, making for a quartet of planets, strung out in a line across the morning sky."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/sun-blasted-mercury-with-a-plasma-wave-what-does-it-mean-for-mercurys-atmosphere-471736">Sun blasted Mercury with a plasma wave. What does it mean for Mercury's atmosphere?</a></strong></p>

<p>The space agency stated that at the start of the month of April, Saturn appeared to move toward Mars each day with Venus, Mars and Saturn forming a trio in the southeast before sunrise.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Later, by the mid-month, NASA said that Jupiter started to rise in the pre-dawn hour. The movement made for a quartet of planets seen is a line across the morning sky.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The rare sighting will be easily observed when Jupiter will be high enough above the horizon in the hour before sunrise.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>ALSO READ |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/machine-learning-approach-might-predict-risk-factors-of-conduct-disorder-in-kids-study-471724">Machine-learning approach might predict risk factors of conduct disorder in kids: Study</a></strong></p>

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<p><em>Sky chart showing the close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter before sunrise on April 30. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech</em></p>

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<p>In a report, NASA revealed: "At the beginning of the month, Mars, Venus and Saturn were all visible in the early morning. Now, the trio are joined by Jupiter, and the four planets can be seen by the naked eye in a straight line for the rest of April, as long as city lights don't intrude."&nbsp;</p>

<p>NASA revealed that the reason for the rare occurrence is that all of the planet's orbits around the sun lining up. Meanwhile, the space agency also stated that Venus' orbit around the sun is 225 Earth days, while Saturn's is 29 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The conjunction can be seen across the world in the predawn hours of the morning by looking east or toward the sunrise, NASA informed.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH |&nbsp;10 things about China's recent space mission</strong></p>

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A treat for the stargazers! An alignment of four planets in our solar system will appear in the sky this month, a rare phenomenon that attracts skywatchers and space enthusiasts who are keen to witness various celestial events.

A treat for the stargazers! An alignment of four planets in our solar system will appear in the sky this month, a rare phenomenon that attracts skywatchers and space enthusiasts who are keen to witness various celestial events. The planetary alignment of Mars, Venus, Saturn and Jupiter can be seen not only using telescopes but will be visible to the naked eye. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) said, "By mid-month, Jupiter is starting to rise in the pre-dawn hour, making for a quartet of planets, strung out in a line across the morning sky." ALSO READ | Sun blasted Mercury with a plasma wave. What does it mean for Mercury's atmosphere? The space agency stated that at the start of the month of April, Saturn appeared to move toward Mars each day with Venus, Mars and Saturn forming a trio in the southeast before sunrise. Later, by the mid-month, NASA said that Jupiter started to rise in the pre-dawn hour. The movement made for a quartet of planets seen is a line across the morning sky. The rare sighting will be easily observed when Jupiter will be high enough above the horizon in the hour before sunrise. ALSO READ | Machine-learning approach might predict risk factors of conduct disorder in kids: Study Sky chart showing the close conjunction of Venus and Jupiter before sunrise on April 30. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech × In a report, NASA revealed: "At the beginning of the month, Mars, Venus and Saturn were all visible in the early morning. Now, the trio are joined by Jupiter, and the four planets can be seen by the naked eye in a straight line for the rest of April, as long as city lights don't intrude." NASA revealed that the reason for the rare occurrence is that all of the planet's orbits around the sun lining up. Meanwhile, the space agency also stated that Venus' orbit around the sun is 225 Earth days, while Saturn's is 29 years. The conjunction can be seen across the world in the predawn hours of the morning by looking east or toward the sunrise, NASA informed. WATCH | 10 things about China's recent space mission ×

Rare sighting as alignment of four planets will be visible through April. Here's how to watch it

<p>NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) never fails to amaze us. Not only the US space agency is at the forefront of space exploration and research, but its social media feeds are also widely admired for brearthtaking images and interesting chunks of space info. And it never fails to enthral us.</p>

<p>So what's on the menu this time? An image of Earth, but with a twist.</p>

<p>As the new month dawned, NASA tweeted a pic taken by its Cassini probe that is studying Saturn. The image show Saturn in all its glory with the majestic rings. But also depicts a curious blue dot.</p>

<p>"You are here.<br />
&nbsp;<br />
In 2013, the Cassini spacecraft captured this wide-angle view of Saturn and a chunk of its rings. That pale blue dot just below the rings? That’s Earth from about 898 million miles (1.4 billion kilometers) away," says NASA in its tweet.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">You are here.<br />
<br />
In 2013, the Cassini spacecraft captured this wide-angle view of Saturn and a chunk of its rings. That pale blue dot just below the rings? That’s Earth from about 898 million miles (1.4 billion kilometers) away. Explore <a href="https://twitter.com/NASASolarSystem?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NASASolarSystem</a>: <a href="https://t.co/9sLPATJHaE">https://t.co/9sLPATJHaE</a> <a href="https://t.co/NlTxVXRANR">pic.twitter.com/NlTxVXRANR</a></p>
— NASA (@NASA) <a href="https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1497734089692135428?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 27, 2022</a></blockquote>
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<p>The image is perhaps a lesson for the self-centred human race which probably thinks it is the centre of the universe. As you go away from the planet, other celestial bodies dwarf us. And all conflicts appear fruitless. This is the only planet we've got. No other space rock has been found to harbour life just like ours&nbsp;Peaceful co-existence is that tough, eh?</p>


NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) never fails to amaze us. Not only the US space agency is at the forefront of space exploration and research, but its social media feeds are also widely admired for brearthtaking images and interesting chunks of space info.

NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) never fails to amaze us. Not only the US space agency is at the forefront of space exploration and research, but its social media feeds are also widely admired for brearthtaking images and interesting chunks of space info. And it never fails to enthral us. So what's on the menu this time? An image of Earth, but with a twist. As the new month dawned, NASA tweeted a pic taken by its Cassini probe that is studying Saturn. The image show Saturn in all its glory with the majestic rings. But also depicts a curious blue dot. "You are here. In 2013, the Cassini spacecraft captured this wide-angle view of Saturn and a chunk of its rings. That pale blue dot just below the rings? That’s Earth from about 898 million miles (1.4 billion kilometers) away," says NASA in its tweet. You are here. In 2013, the Cassini spacecraft captured this wide-angle view of Saturn and a chunk of its rings. That pale blue dot just below the rings? That’s Earth from about 898 million miles (1.4 billion kilometers) away. Explore @NASASolarSystem: https://t.co/9sLPATJHaE pic.twitter.com/NlTxVXRANR — NASA (@NASA) February 27, 2022 × The image is perhaps a lesson for the self-centred human race which probably thinks it is the centre of the universe. As you go away from the planet, other celestial bodies dwarf us. And all conflicts appear fruitless. This is the only planet we've got. No other space rock has been found to harbour life just like ours Peaceful co-existence is that tough, eh?

NASA tweets brilliant image that may make you a bit introspective

<p>Saturn sure makes for a grand view in the night sky. After all, it is the only planet in our solar system with easily visible majestic rings. If you have seen Saturn through an everyday telescope, it's hard to miss the mesmerising beauty of the planet.</p>

<p>Saturn's rings are made of rock, ice and dust. It is estimated that the rings are 10 to 100 million years old. That might sound a lot but not much when we know&nbsp;dinosaurs roamed the Earth just 66 million years ago.</p>

<p>Saturn may flaunt its distinct look in the night sky today but the planet is losing its rings.</p>

<p>Imagine pointing your telescope at the sky and finding no difference between Saturn and other planets! Yes, that sounds sad.</p>

<p>Saturn is losing its rings due to what is being called 'ring rain'. No, there is no mysterious rain chipping away at the rings. Saturn is itself attracting the 'ring matter' which is falling towards it from the ring and vapourising. In other words, Saturn is eating away its own rings!</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/an-astronomer-has-created-video-on-saturns-spinning-rings-375558">An astronomer has created video on Saturn's spinning rings</a></strong></p>

<p>This destructive process was revealed to The Atlantic by astronomers. It is estimated that 10 tonnes of ring matter are falling into Saturn every second!</p>

<p>NASA's Cassini Mission has studied Saturn extensively.</p>

<p>We can heave a sigh of relief though. Saturn is unlikely to lose its grandeur during our lifetimes. At the current rate of degradation, it is estimated that the core of the ring would disappear in 100 million years and the rings will completely disappear in 300 million years. But it will be a sad moment indeed, whenever it comes.</p>


Saturn sure makes for a grand view in the night sky. After all, it is the only planet in our solar system with easily visible majestic rings. If you have seen Saturn through an everyday telescope, it's hard to miss the mesmerising beauty of the planet.

Saturn sure makes for a grand view in the night sky. After all, it is the only planet in our solar system with easily visible majestic rings. If you have seen Saturn through an everyday telescope, it's hard to miss the mesmerising beauty of the planet. Saturn's rings are made of rock, ice and dust. It is estimated that the rings are 10 to 100 million years old. That might sound a lot but not much when we know dinosaurs roamed the Earth just 66 million years ago. Saturn may flaunt its distinct look in the night sky today but the planet is losing its rings. Imagine pointing your telescope at the sky and finding no difference between Saturn and other planets! Yes, that sounds sad. Saturn is losing its rings due to what is being called 'ring rain'. No, there is no mysterious rain chipping away at the rings. Saturn is itself attracting the 'ring matter' which is falling towards it from the ring and vapourising. In other words, Saturn is eating away its own rings! Also Read: An astronomer has created video on Saturn's spinning rings This destructive process was revealed to The Atlantic by astronomers. It is estimated that 10 tonnes of ring matter are falling into Saturn every second! NASA's Cassini Mission has studied Saturn extensively. We can heave a sigh of relief though. Saturn is unlikely to lose its grandeur during our lifetimes. At the current rate of degradation, it is estimated that the core of the ring would disappear in 100 million years and the rings will completely disappear in 300 million years. But it will be a sad moment indeed, whenever it comes.

Saturn is 'eating' its own rings, they may disappear altogether

<p>The beautiful auroras visible in regions near both of the planet's poles are a sight to behold. Auroras on Earth are formed due to interaction between charged particles from the Sun and Earth's magnetic field.</p>

<p>Other observable planets have auroras too ofcourse. Saturn is one of them. But now scientists say that&nbsp;auroras on Saturn are not formed solely due to its magnetosphere.</p>

<p>Space scientists in Leicester have discovered a never-before-seen mechanism. They say that swirling winds in Saturn's atmosphere contribute to the auroras on the planet.</p>

<p>This discovery has changed scientists' understanding of planetary aurorae and answers one of the first mysteries raised by NASA's Cassini probe, which reached Saturn in 2004: why can't we easily measure the length of a day on the Ringed Planet?</p>

<p>When it first arrived at Saturn, Cassini tried to measure the bulk rotation rate of the planet, that determines the length of its day, by tracking radio emission 'pulses' from Saturn's atmosphere. To the great surprise of those making the measurements, they found that the rate appeared to have changed over the two decades since the last spacecraft to have flown past the planet - Voyager 2, also operated by NASA - in 1981.</p>

<p>Leicester PhD researcher Nahid Chowdhury is a member of the Planetary Science Group within the School of Physics and Astronomy and corresponding author for the study.</p>

<p>He said, "Saturn's internal rotation rate has to be constant, but for decades researchers have shown that numerous periodic properties related to the planet - the very measurements we've used at other planets to understand the internal rotation rate, such as the radio emission - tend to change with time. What's more, there are also independent periodic features seen in the northern and southern hemispheres which themselves vary over the course of a season on the planet."</p>

<p>"Our understanding of the physics of planetary interiors tells us the true rotation rate of the planet can't change this quickly, so something unique and strange must be happening at Saturn. Several theories have been touted since the advent of the NASA Cassini mission trying to explain the mechanism/s behind these observed periodicities. This study represents the first detection of the fundamental driver, situated in the upper atmosphere of the planet, which goes on to generate both the observed planetary periodicities and aurorae," he added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The beautiful auroras visible in regions near both of the planet's poles are a sight to behold. Auroras on Earth are formed due to interaction between charged particles from the Sun and Earth's magnetic field.

The beautiful auroras visible in regions near both of the planet's poles are a sight to behold. Auroras on Earth are formed due to interaction between charged particles from the Sun and Earth's magnetic field. Other observable planets have auroras too ofcourse. Saturn is one of them. But now scientists say that auroras on Saturn are not formed solely due to its magnetosphere. Space scientists in Leicester have discovered a never-before-seen mechanism. They say that swirling winds in Saturn's atmosphere contribute to the auroras on the planet. This discovery has changed scientists' understanding of planetary aurorae and answers one of the first mysteries raised by NASA's Cassini probe, which reached Saturn in 2004: why can't we easily measure the length of a day on the Ringed Planet? When it first arrived at Saturn, Cassini tried to measure the bulk rotation rate of the planet, that determines the length of its day, by tracking radio emission 'pulses' from Saturn's atmosphere. To the great surprise of those making the measurements, they found that the rate appeared to have changed over the two decades since the last spacecraft to have flown past the planet - Voyager 2, also operated by NASA - in 1981. Leicester PhD researcher Nahid Chowdhury is a member of the Planetary Science Group within the School of Physics and Astronomy and corresponding author for the study. He said, "Saturn's internal rotation rate has to be constant, but for decades researchers have shown that numerous periodic properties related to the planet - the very measurements we've used at other planets to understand the internal rotation rate, such as the radio emission - tend to change with time. What's more, there are also independent periodic features seen in the northern and southern hemispheres which themselves vary over the course of a season on the planet." "Our understanding of the physics of planetary interiors tells us the true rotation rate of the planet can't change this quickly, so something unique and strange must be happening at Saturn. Several theories have been touted since the advent of the NASA Cassini mission trying to explain the mechanism/s behind these observed periodicities. This study represents the first detection of the fundamental driver, situated in the upper atmosphere of the planet, which goes on to generate both the observed planetary periodicities and aurorae," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

Scientists find never-before-seen reason behind Saturn's auroras

<p>A new research has revealed that an ice moon on Saturn could be a 'stealth' ocean world hospitable to life.</p>

<p>The study, published in the journal Icarus, states that Saturn's innermost moon Mimas may contain a liquid internal ocean.</p>

<p>Saturn is now being recognised as the “moon king” of our solar system, with astronomers spotting 20 more of them orbiting the giant ringed planet, bringing its total count to 82,&nbsp;three more than Jupiter.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-astronomers-identify-mysterious-particles-in-primordial-soup-447255" hreflang="en">In a first, astronomers identify mysterious particles in 'primordial soup'</a></strong></p>

<p>As per the study's lead author Alyssa Rhoden, a scientist at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, "If Mimas has an ocean, it represents a new class of small, 'stealth' ocean worlds with surfaces that do not betray the ocean's existence."&nbsp;</p>

<p>English astronomer William Herschel had discovered Mimas, the smallest and closest to Saturn of the ringed planet's&nbsp;moons, in 1789. It resembles the Death Star from Star Wars.</p>

<p>"Because the surface of Mimas is heavily cratered, we thought it was just a frozen block of ice," said Rhoden, who is also the co-leader of NASA's Network for Ocean Worlds Research Coordination Network.</p>

<p><strong>Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/astronomers-discover-black-hole-that-contains-200000-times-mass-of-the-sun-buried-in-gas-443984" hreflang="en">Astronomers discover black hole that contains 200,000 times mass of the Sun buried in gas</a></strong></p>

<p>"IWOWs, such as Enceladus and Europa, tend to be fractured and show other signs of geologic activity. Turns out, Mimas' surface was tricking us, and our new understanding has greatly expanded the definition of a potentially habitable world in our solar system and beyond."</p>

<p>Saturn, a gas giant made up mostly of hydrogen and helium, is the second-largest planet in the solar system and the sixth from the sun. Its diameter of about 72,000 miles (116,000 km) dwarf’s Earth diameter of about 7,900 miles (12,700 km).</p>

<p>Only Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun, is larger. Saturn formed with the other planets and the sun about 4.5 billion years ago.</p>

<p>"Evaluating Mimas' status as an ocean moon would benchmark models of its formation and evolution," Rhoden said.</p>

<p>"This would help us better understand Saturn's rings and mid-sized moons as well as the prevalence of potentially habitable ocean moons, particularly at Uranus. Mimas is a compelling target for continued investigation."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A new research has revealed that an ice moon on Saturn could be a 'stealth' ocean world hospitable to life. The study, published in the journal Icarus, states that Saturn's innermost moon Mimas may contain a liquid internal ocean.

A new research has revealed that an ice moon on Saturn could be a 'stealth' ocean world hospitable to life. The study, published in the journal Icarus, states that Saturn's innermost moon Mimas may contain a liquid internal ocean. Saturn is now being recognised as the “moon king” of our solar system, with astronomers spotting 20 more of them orbiting the giant ringed planet, bringing its total count to 82, three more than Jupiter. Also read | In a first, astronomers identify mysterious particles in 'primordial soup' As per the study's lead author Alyssa Rhoden, a scientist at Southwest Research Institute in Boulder, "If Mimas has an ocean, it represents a new class of small, 'stealth' ocean worlds with surfaces that do not betray the ocean's existence." English astronomer William Herschel had discovered Mimas, the smallest and closest to Saturn of the ringed planet's moons, in 1789. It resembles the Death Star from Star Wars. "Because the surface of Mimas is heavily cratered, we thought it was just a frozen block of ice," said Rhoden, who is also the co-leader of NASA's Network for Ocean Worlds Research Coordination Network. Also read | Astronomers discover black hole that contains 200,000 times mass of the Sun buried in gas "IWOWs, such as Enceladus and Europa, tend to be fractured and show other signs of geologic activity. Turns out, Mimas' surface was tricking us, and our new understanding has greatly expanded the definition of a potentially habitable world in our solar system and beyond." Saturn, a gas giant made up mostly of hydrogen and helium, is the second-largest planet in the solar system and the sixth from the sun. Its diameter of about 72,000 miles (116,000 km) dwarf’s Earth diameter of about 7,900 miles (12,700 km). Only Jupiter, the fifth planet from the sun, is larger. Saturn formed with the other planets and the sun about 4.5 billion years ago. "Evaluating Mimas' status as an ocean moon would benchmark models of its formation and evolution," Rhoden said. "This would help us better understand Saturn's rings and mid-sized moons as well as the prevalence of potentially habitable ocean moons, particularly at Uranus. Mimas is a compelling target for continued investigation." (With inputs from agencies)

This ice moon, which resembles the Death Star from Star Wars, could be hospitable to life

Twenty-five years ago, the Cassini spacecraft was launched into space. It spent 13 years exploring Saturn before disintegrating in the skies above the ringed planet in 2017. Cassini collected more than 453,000 images and travelled 4.9 billion miles.

25 years ago, the Cassini spacecraft set off on a journey to Saturn in October 1997 | WION Edge

<p>NASA posts spectacular image of things across the universe. One may be forgiven to think that NASA's lenses are always focussed at distant stars and galaxies. The space agency posts n-number of photos of distant celestial bodies after all! But NASA has a close eye on our planetary neighbourhood as well. And the results are no less breathtaking.</p>

<p>This time NASA has wowed people by posting a unique visualisation of Saturn, the most recognisable planet in our solar system. The ringed beauty is a sight to behold on its own. The majestic planet and its rings can easily be spotted in the night sky using even a mid-sized telescope.</p>

<p>So what's special about this new video?</p>

<p>NASA's visualisation, made based on images from Hubble Space Telescope show a 'moon parade'. This is to say that Saturn's moons can be seen in this video along with the beautuful planet. The sight mesmesrises the viewers.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/first-images-from-mars-rover-show-ancient-river-delta-in-jezero-crater-419119">First images from Mars rover show ancient river delta in Jezero crater</a></strong></p>

<p>"Time for a moon parade. Four of Saturn’s moons move across the face of their planet in this spectacular Hubble visualization...," NASA has said in its Instagram post. In the video, a shadow on one of the moons ON Saturn can also be seen. Check it out. Make sure you keep sound on.</p>

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<p>Like any other NASA post, this one has got thumbs up from Instagram people. At the time of publishing of this story, the video has got more than 90,000 likes.<br />
&nbsp;</p>


NASA posts spectacular image of things across the universe. One may be forgiven to think that NASA's lenses are always focussed at distant stars and galaxies. The space agency posts n-number of photos of distant celestial bodies after all!

NASA posts spectacular image of things across the universe. One may be forgiven to think that NASA's lenses are always focussed at distant stars and galaxies. The space agency posts n-number of photos of distant celestial bodies after all! But NASA has a close eye on our planetary neighbourhood as well. And the results are no less breathtaking. This time NASA has wowed people by posting a unique visualisation of Saturn, the most recognisable planet in our solar system. The ringed beauty is a sight to behold on its own. The majestic planet and its rings can easily be spotted in the night sky using even a mid-sized telescope. So what's special about this new video? NASA's visualisation, made based on images from Hubble Space Telescope show a 'moon parade'. This is to say that Saturn's moons can be seen in this video along with the beautuful planet. The sight mesmesrises the viewers. Also Read | First images from Mars rover show ancient river delta in Jezero crater "Time for a moon parade. Four of Saturn’s moons move across the face of their planet in this spectacular Hubble visualization...," NASA has said in its Instagram post. In the video, a shadow on one of the moons ON Saturn can also be seen. Check it out. Make sure you keep sound on. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Hubble Space Telescope (@nasahubble) × Like any other NASA post, this one has got thumbs up from Instagram people. At the time of publishing of this story, the video has got more than 90,000 likes.

NASA posts video of 'moon parade' with Saturn in background

<p>If there is any planet that first catches our fancy when we are young, it is Saturn. The distinct rings is what makes Saturn a mesmerising thing. Who wants spherical planets when you can throw a funky ring around one of them eh? These rings can be witnessed using just an amateur stargazer's telescope.</p>

<p>We will be forgiven to think that it's just one ring surrounding Saturn. But the 'single' ring is made of seven major rings. All these rings are made of ice and chunks of rock.</p>

<p>Saturn and its rings behave just like our Solar System. As planets in our Solar System revolve around the Sun, material in Saturn's rings revolves around the planet.</p>

<p>A former NASA astronomer has made an interesting video that depicts how the rings revolve around Saturn.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Countless shards of frozen water ice form Saturn's rings, which range in size from microscopic icy dust to bus-sized ice bergs. Each piece has its own orbit: close to Saturn they orbit fast, far away they orbit slow. Major ring segments are A-to-F (labelled in order of discovery) <a href="https://t.co/h4QjIz3eY8">pic.twitter.com/h4QjIz3eY8</a></p>
— Dr. James O'Donoghue (@physicsJ) <a href="https://twitter.com/physicsJ/status/1272121370109865985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<p>Material closer to Saturn orbits faster otherwise it would fall in. Ring material farther from Saturn has the liberty to revolve at a slower speed.</p>

<p>The logic is just the same as that of the Solar System.</p>

<p>The slowest, outmost ring travels at about 37,000 mph (16.4 kilometers per second). While the innermost and fastest ring spins at a mindboggling speed of 52,000 mph (23.2 kilometers per second).</p>


If there is any planet that first catches our fancy when we are young, it is Saturn. The distinct rings is what makes Saturn a mesmerising thing. Who wants spherical planets when you can throw a funky ring around one of them eh?

If there is any planet that first catches our fancy when we are young, it is Saturn. The distinct rings is what makes Saturn a mesmerising thing. Who wants spherical planets when you can throw a funky ring around one of them eh? These rings can be witnessed using just an amateur stargazer's telescope. We will be forgiven to think that it's just one ring surrounding Saturn. But the 'single' ring is made of seven major rings. All these rings are made of ice and chunks of rock. Saturn and its rings behave just like our Solar System. As planets in our Solar System revolve around the Sun, material in Saturn's rings revolves around the planet. A former NASA astronomer has made an interesting video that depicts how the rings revolve around Saturn. Countless shards of frozen water ice form Saturn's rings, which range in size from microscopic icy dust to bus-sized ice bergs. Each piece has its own orbit: close to Saturn they orbit fast, far away they orbit slow. Major ring segments are A-to-F (labelled in order of discovery) pic.twitter.com/h4QjIz3eY8 — Dr. James O'Donoghue (@physicsJ) June 14, 2020 × Material closer to Saturn orbits faster otherwise it would fall in. Ring material farther from Saturn has the liberty to revolve at a slower speed. The logic is just the same as that of the Solar System. The slowest, outmost ring travels at about 37,000 mph (16.4 kilometers per second). While the innermost and fastest ring spins at a mindboggling speed of 52,000 mph (23.2 kilometers per second).

An astronomer has created video on Saturn's spinning rings

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