Saturn’s mysterious rings & extreme tilt: Former moon may be responsible

Source: The post is based on the article “Saturn’s mysterious rings & extreme tilt: Former moon may be responsible” published in Down To Earth on 23rd September 2022

What is the News?

According to a new study, a pre-existing moon named ‘Chrysalis’ likely left Saturn with its bright rings and extreme tilt.

What are the key findings of the study?

Rings: Four planets — Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus — are known to have rings. Saturn’s rings, composed of water ice particles ranging from micrometres to tens of meters in size are the brightest

Tilt: Saturn has a tilt of 26.73 degrees, Earth 23.45 degrees and Jupiter 3 degrees.

– Currently, gas giants Neptune, Uranus and Saturn have a substantial tilt, suggesting that this feature did not arise during the formation stages. Jupiter — also a gas giant — is the only exception. 

What is the reason for the tilt of Saturn?

Role of Neptune: Various theories suggest that Saturn got its tilt due to gravitational interactions with its neighbour Neptune. But the new study argues that Saturn is no longer under Neptune’s gravitational influence.

Role of Titan: As per observations from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft, Titan — Saturn’s largest satellite — may have been responsible for the tilt which orbited Saturn from 2004-2017.

– Titan is migrating from Saturn at about 11 centimetres per year, 100 times faster than previous estimates. Titan’s fast migration caused the planet to tilt further, reducing Nepturn’s gravitational influence on Saturn.

Role of Former Moon (Chrysalis): Scientists conducted simulations of the planet’s axis of rotation and how it has changed over time. It revealed that a former moon could be involved, as removing the moon gives Saturn its tilt, according to the model.

– Chrysalis likely orbited Saturn for several billion years, roughly 160 million years ago, Chrysalis became unstable and came too close to its planet. This encounter likely pushed the moon away or destroyed it.