Out of all the planets in the solar system, most would argue that Saturn is the most striking because of its rings. Saturn isn’t the only planet that has rings, but it’s definitely the most recognizable. Have you ever wondered if Earth could have rings?
How do Rings Form Around a Planet?
Scientists have theorized that rings are formed by debris and particles that get pulled into orbit around a planet by its gravity. It is thought that Saturn’s rings formed when two moons collided and the debris got pulled into Saturn’s orbit. Scientists on Earth took this data and began to wonder if Earth could have had rings millions of years before humans even existed.
How did Scientists See if Earth Had Rings?
You’re probably wondering “How does one see whether or not Earth had rings millions of years ago?” Well, scientists at Monash University in Australia began by analyzing 21 crater sites around the world. But what do craters have to do with rings? On other planets that have rings, the rings typically form around the equator. This means that asteroid craters on or near the equator would be evidence of Earth having rings. The scientists used computer programs to account for the movement of tectonic plates and show where the crater impacts would have been 400 million years ago when they formed. The program showed that all the crater impacts were within 30 degrees of the equator. The chances of 21 random asteroid impacts all landing within 30 degrees of the equator is 1 in 25 million. However, the impacts could be easily explained by a ring system.
What Else Do We Know About Earth’s Rings?
Scientists theorize that a large asteroid had a close encounter which resulted in it forming a ring of debris around Earth. Over millions of years, the material from the ring fell to Earth which created a spike in meteorite impacts that scientists had previously observed. Scientists have also been curious about how a ring system would affect Earth’s climate. They think that the rings would have contributed to a dramatic global cooling known as the Hirnantian Icehouse.
While this is just a theory and there is no way to know if Earth actually had rings, it’s interesting to think about what life would be like today if Earth had rings.
Sources
BBC Newsround. “Did Earth Once Have Rings like Saturn?” BBC Newsround, 24 Sept. 2024, www.bbc.co.uk/newsround/articles/c93y4q1z0q1o. Accessed 18 Apr. 2025.
“Earth May Have Had a Ring System 466 Million Years Ago.” Science, 16 Sept. 2024, www.monash.edu/science/news-events/news/2024/earth-may-have-had-a-ring-system-466-million-years-ago.
Mehta, Jatan. “How Do Planets Get Rings?” The Planetary Society, 21 June 2022, www.planetary.org/articles/how-do-planets-get-rings.
Sharmila Kuthunur. “Earth Had Saturn-like Rings 466 Million Years Ago, New Study Suggests.” Space.com, Space, 18 Sept. 2024, www.space.com/ancient-earth-ring-system-asteroid-breakup.
Tavares, Frank . “New Simulations Shed Light on Origins of Saturn’s Rings and Icy Moons – NASA.” NASA, 26 Sept. 2023, www.nasa.gov/solar-system/new-simulations-shed-light-on-origins-of-saturns-rings-and-icy-moons/.
