It's Full of Stars

Saturn’s Rings May Be Remains of Ripped-Apart Moon

Saturn’s famous rings are the last remaining shards of a huge moon the planet tore apart long ago, a new study suggests.

A moon about the size of Titan — Saturn’s largest satellite — likely spiraled into the giant planet about 4.5 billion years ago, scientists think. As it made its way, Saturn’s powerful gravity stripped off the doomed moon’s icy outer layers, thus spawning the planet’s magnificent rings, according to the research.

Keep reading.