Saturn’s rings may have formed from a collision between two icy moons millions of years ago, according to supercomputer simulations conducted by NASA. The simulations, which utilized the DiRAC supercomputing facility, revealed that different collision scenarios could disperse the right amount of ice into Saturn’s Roche limit, leading to the formation of its iconic rings.
The research, a collaboration between NASA and its partners, has shed new light on the Saturn system and raised questions about the potential for life on its moons. The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal on September 27.
Saturn’s rings have long been a subject of fascination to scientists and stargazers alike. These remarkable rings can be observed from Earth’s surface with a decent amateur telescope. However, the origin and composition of these rings had remained a mystery. The recent supercomputer simulations offer a possible explanation that involves a massive collision between two moons during the age of dinosaurs.
The simulations, which were conducted at a resolution more than 100 times higher than previous studies, provided scientists with their best insights yet into the history of the Saturn system. The researchers used the open-source simulation code SWIFT to model different collisions between precursor moons and study the dynamics of the Saturn system in detail.
Saturn’s rings are located close to the planet within what is known as the Roche limit. This limit is the farthest orbit at which a planet’s gravitational force is powerful enough to disintegrate larger bodies of rock or ice that come too close. Material outside the Roche limit can clump together to form moons.
By simulating almost 200 different versions of the impact, the researchers found that a wide range of collision scenarios could scatter the right amount of ice into Saturn’s Roche limit, leading to the formation of the rings. This type of collision could also explain why the rings are predominantly made of ice rather than rock.
The simulations also suggested that the collision would have caused ice and rocky debris to hit other moons in the Saturn system, potentially resulting in a cascade of collisions. This cascading effect could have disrupted any other precursor moons outside the rings, leading to the formation of the present-day moons.
The research has also raised questions about the potential for life on Saturn’s moons. The Saturn system hosts environments that scientists believe might be suitable for life, and understanding the formation and history of the moons is crucial to determining their potential habitability.
The simulations provide a plausible explanation for the origin of Saturn’s rings and contribute to our overall understanding of the Saturn system. However, many questions still remain, and further research is needed to unravel the full story of the planet’s original system and its evolution up to the present day.
The findings from this research will inform future investigations into Saturn and its moons, providing valuable insights into the formation and dynamics of this fascinating celestial system.
The research article is titled “A Recent Impact Origin of Saturn’s Rings and Mid-sized Moons” and was authored by L. F. A. Teodoro, J. A. Kegerreis, P. R. Estrada, M. Ćuk, V. R. Eke, J. N. Cuzzi, R. J. Massey, and T. D. Sandnes.