Astronomers have recently been able to capture on film an event that only happens every forty-two years or so. The rings of the planet Uranus are now directly perpendicular to the Earth, allowing astronomers to catch a glimpse of the structures and patterns of the rings not normally available. The new pictures have also allowed for some surprising finds about the rings that circle the planet named after the Roman god of the sky. The other three planets known to have rings in the solar system are Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune. Even if Pluto had rings, its unfortunate demotion from planet status would mean it could not be included on the list
The edge on view is considered to be favorable for studying a planet’s rings because features on the surface on the rings can more easily be seen. Other features such as ripples or waves can be seen from the perpendicular position that can not be spotted when the rings are at an angle. In addition, Astronomers hope to get a better a view of the two small moons, Cordelia and Ophellia, Uranus’s two known satellites keep the Epsilon ring, the planet’s brightest. Images from the Hubble and earth-based observatories may on cover more moons because it is assumed other satellites must exist to keep the rings of the planet in place.
The rings of the planet are known to be composed mostly of ice with a thin layer of dust spread between, this is in marked contrast to the rings of Saturn and Jupiter which have a different composition and are likely to include particles that have smashed into Jupiter’s inner moons and in the case of Saturn how the rings were formed is often unknown.
The height of the even will happen this December, when the rings of the planet are edge on to the sun and the position of the Earth itself will allow the rings to be viewed without the interference of glare from our sun. Uranus, discovered by Will Herscher in 1781 was the first planet to be discovered by the aid of a telescope and the composition of its atmosphere gives it its unique blue-green appearance. The planet was originally not thought to have a ring system like that belonging to it larger gas giant siblings, Jupiter or Saturn, but rings were discovered in 1977 and the Uranus equinox will be the first time the ring system has been in that position relative to the Earth since 1977.
Sources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6961087.stm
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/uranus.htm
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/jupiter.htm#ring
http://www.solarviews.com/eng/saturn.htm
