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Saturn's Rings Could be Disappearing

Posted by michael on from the rated-r-for-ringless dept.

fenimor writes "Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, is probably best known for its famous planetary rings. They extend from 6,630 km to 120,700 km above Saturn's equator, and are composed of silica rock, iron oxide, and ice particles. A massive eruption of atomic oxygen from Saturn's outer rings, seen by Cassini's ultraviolet camera, may be an indication that the planet's wispy E ring is eroding so fast that it could disappear within 100 million years if not replenished."

11 of 48 comments (clear)

  1. A hundred million years? by Canthros · · Score: 3, Funny

    Whoa, we better get cracking on that one right away.

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    Canthros
    1. Re:A hundred million years? by JamesTRexx · · Score: 2, Funny

      I am relieved that I misread. At first I thought it said 10 million years and paniced.

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      home
    2. Re:A hundred million years? by east+coast · · Score: 2, Funny

      Whoa, we better get cracking on that one right away.

      You joke about it now but you'll put it off thinking there is pleny of time, watch a few episodes of M*A*S*H, Maybe play a video game or two, make something to eat and before you know it BAM! It's 100,002,005 AD. The rings will be gone and you'll have done nothing about it.

      Who will be laughing on that day, Mr. Fancy Pants?

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      Dedicated Cthulhu Cultist since 4523 BC.
    3. Re:A hundred million years? by St.+Arbirix · · Score: 2, Funny

      Whoa, we better get cracking on that one right away.

      I'm sure someone somewhere is.

      For some reason most people have this natural compulsion to believe all the effects we see in the environment are caused by humanity.

      I think it's obvious the martians are depleting it in preparation for an attack.

      --
      Direct away from face when opening.
  2. I have a plan! by Lendrick · · Score: 2, Funny

    Let's fill a space shuttle up with rocks and ice, and then send it out to Saturn and replenish the ring ourselves!

    1. Re:I have a plan! by dahl_ag · · Score: 2, Funny

      This reminds me of a guy who used to post on sci.astro years ago. I think his name was Abian. Anyway, he was seriously pushing to start an initiative to re-orbit Mars and give it a more Earth-like orbit. This would make it easier to terraform, etc. As I recall, he was proposing a relatively short time table for this. Anyway, I remember someone coming up with a "better" idea. Just ship up lots of cans of green and blue paint and paint Mars to look like Earth. If I recall correctly, it only went downhill from there.

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      www.DIYTVAntennas.com
  3. Re:Enough with the editorialising... by Yanray · · Score: 2, Funny

    You undersestimate the finger pointing. Just wait a few hundred years the "Fight to save Saturns Rings" will go down in history as humanities folly, just like global warming.

    I just want video footage of the neo-hippies getting sucked into Saturns Gravity well while holding hands and singing Kumbia. Oh the humanity...

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    --"Sorry for the inconvience." Gods Last Words to his Creation
    DNA, So Long and Thanks for all the Fish
  4. On the rocks, please. by PhotoJim · · Score: 2, Funny

    ... that is, if the Americans don't start harvesting it to make ice cubes. Better yet... E Ring Bottled Water! Straight from the rings of Saturn... Makes Dasani seem kinda ... ordinary. :)

  5. Help is here! by Zareste · · Score: 2, Funny

    I'll fill up my ice-cube tray!

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    I am NOT a number! I am a - oh wait, I'm number 761710. Look! 761710!
  6. Re:Enough with the editorialising... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    Mmmmmmm. Straw man. Mmmmmmmmm.

    Me, I'm waiting for the Republicans to blame it on Bill Clinton.

  7. Warning: Troll by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Yes this is a wicked Troll.

    The evaporation of the Rings of Saturn are caused by Global Warming. We all *know* that Global Warming is caused by American vehicles.

    Therefore, the United Nations should take immediate action and pass a bunch of "resolutions" sternly warning those bastard Americans that they are ruining the beauty of Saturn's Rings and will be in Real Big Trouble Any Time Now.

    Only then will the Rings be saved.