After analyzing data collected by the Cassini spacecraft in 2017, the researchers determined the mass of the rings and the rate of dust accumulation on them. The results show that less than one gram of dust per square foot (about 0.09 square meters) of Saturn’s rings accumulates each year. Based on this ratio, it can be assumed that the rings have accumulated dust for up to several hundred million years, which is consistent with the 2019 findings. And even if the rings formed with the planet, they’ve likely undergone significant changes over time.
The exact origin of Saturn’s rings remains a topic of heated debate among scientists. One theory is that the rings were made of material from the original nebula from which Saturn emerged. Another theory suggests that the rings are the remnants of the moon Veritas, which were torn apart by gravitational forces or a comet or asteroid impact.
Source: Ferra
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