Questions tagged [planetary-ring]

Questions about rings of debris that encircle the equatorial regions of some planets.

67 questions
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Can there be elliptical rings around a planet?

The rings of Saturn and Jupiter are circular. Orbits can be elliptical, so can rings be elliptical?
Gstestso
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Could a cross-ringed planet exist?

My title doesn't do my question justice in explaining, but the kind of satellite system I'm thinking of is two rings on two separate axis, much like (if you've seen it) the film 'Treasure Planet' shown below. My guess is no, as the ring of a planet…
XenoDwarf
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Rings around a smaller, close-in planet?

Is it possible for a small, close-to-star planet to have a stable ring system--icy or otherwise? A smaller planet means the rings would have to be closer to the planet, which means the radial shear (difference in orbital speed vs. radius) in the…
jvriesem
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Do planetary rings always follow rotational axis?

In solar system,most ring systems seem almost lies exactly on the equator of planet, is it possible that the plane of a ring system is not lie on the equator of the planet?
Gstestso
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What is a debris field called before it becomes a planetary ring?

As a body of a suitable size and mass moves within the Roche limit of a planet, it will disintegrate. This will form a debris field that will eventually form a planetary ring. Is there a name given to this debris field before it forms a ring?…
Dan
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