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The origin of Saturn's beautiful rings and the reason for the planet's unusually large 27 degree-tilt on its axis has puzzled astronomers for decades. Scientists had initially believed that the rings had been a part of the planet since its formation billions of years ago. However, recent research indicates that the planet acquired them sometime between 200 to 100 million years ago.

In a recent study published in Science, a team of researchers led by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology suggest that Saturn’s rings originated | Space

The absent moon, called Chrysalis, might also explain why the planet tilts slightly in its spin.

The study also details how Saturn and the nearby planet Neptune may have once been gravitationally linked.

“Just like a butterfly’s chrysalis, this satellite was long dormant and suddenly became active, and the rings emerged."

WASHINGTON — Discovered by Galileo 400 years ago, the rings of Saturn are about the most striking thing astronomers with small telescopes can spot in our solar system.But even today, experts cannot agree on how or when they formed.A new study published Thursday in the prestigious journal Science sets out to provide a convincing answer.Between 100-200 million years ago, an icy

About 100 million years ago, one of Saturn's moons may have come much too close to its planet. Now an American astronomer suspects that the moon was torn apart by Saturn's gravity and that the remnants formed the rings that surround the planet.

Scientists said on Thursday the destruction of a large moon that strayed too close to Saturn would account both for the birth of the gas giant planets magnificent rings.

WASHINGTON: Discov­ered by Galileo 400 years ago, the rings of Saturn are about the most striking thing astronomers...

Saturn’s rings and tilt could be the product of an ancient, missing moon that smashed to bits to form Saturn’s rings.