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Rings Discovered Around a Moon for the First Time

Riding with Robots writes "It turns out that one of the Ringed Planet's moons has rings of its own. The robotic spacecraft Cassini at Saturn has discovered that the icy moon Rhea is orbited by an extensive debris field and at least one ring, the first such system found. 'Many years ago we thought Saturn was the only planet with rings,' said one mission scientist. 'Now we may have a moon of Saturn that is a miniature version of its even more elaborately decorated parent.'"

9 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. pff by McGiraf · · Score: 5, Funny

    Wake me up when they find a moon orbiting a ring.

  2. Pre-emptive comment by Jugalator · · Score: 2, Funny

    Pre-emptive semi-funny comment involving the Goatse guy, a ring, and mooning.

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    Beware: In C++, your friends can see your privates!
  3. Can we make some rings around our own moon? by LionKimbro · · Score: 2, Funny

    Perhaps there's something relatively simple we can do, to add rings around our moon. Like shooting a missle at an asteroid in the asteroid belt, *just so,* or perhaps the next time a comet comes by.

    It'd be a really nice decoration.

  4. Does this mean by zakeria · · Score: 3, Funny

    they got engaged ?

  5. And in next year's news... by tverbeek · · Score: 2, Funny

    The next discovery will be that one of the rocks orbiting Rhea itself has a ring around it.

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    http://alternatives.rzero.com/
    1. Re:And in next year's news... by Tablizer · · Score: 2, Funny

      The next discovery will be that one of the rocks orbiting Rhea itself has a ring around it.

      Let's name it Recursia

  6. Re:star wars by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    No, it is not. However, circumference / pi = dia-Rhea.

  7. Wasn't there a movie about this? by rumli · · Score: 5, Funny

    'Many years ago we thought Saturn was the only planet with rings,' said one mission scientist...
    But they were all of them deceived, for another ring was made...
  8. Re:Dumb question: Why are they 2 dimensional? by Tablizer · · Score: 5, Funny

    and maybe don't question it, but why do so many structures in 'outer space' -- low gravity, three-dimensional space -- take on essentially two-dimensional forms? Consider rings around planets, planetary systems around stars, and galaxies, at least. They are all flat discs.

    The Flying Spaghetti Monster makes flat plate-like shapes because spaghetti likes to rest on plates. See, it all falls into place logically.