They’re one of the most iconic objects in the entire solar system, but on Sunday, March 23, the rings of Saturn will disappear. The most extensive and impressive ring system we know of — and a spine-tingling view through any telescope — will be a non-event.
Here’s everything you need to know about why Saturn’s rings are about to disappear — and when they will return.
Why Saturn’s Rings Are Disappearing
It’s not that Saturn’s rings are actually disappearing altogether (though that will happen in about 100 million years, according to NASA, when they’ll be pulled into Saturn by its gravity). It’s just that they will, for a short time, become impossible to see from Earth.
Earth’s view of the planet waxes and wanes as Saturn orbits the sun every 29 years. Saturn’s axis is tilted by 26.7 degrees with respect to its orbit around the sun, according to NASA — similar to Earth’s 23.5-degree tilt — which means the ringed planet has seasons. Its tilt merely means that the rings appear to open and close, as seen from Earth.
Right now, the view from Earth is narrowing, and on March 23, the rings will be precisely tilted edge-on to Earth, making it impossible to view them.
Saturn Without Rings
Although astronomers won’t be able to see Saturn’s rings, it’s also true that this is not the best time of year to observe Saturn anyway.
The planet was in conjunction with the sun on March 12 — meaning it was entirely lost in its glare, as seen from Earth — and is now emerging into the pre-sunrise morning sky.
When Saturn’s Rings Will Return
Saturn will be at opposition on September 21, 2025, when it will be both closest to Earth (because Earth will be between Saturn and the sun) and the brightest it gets all year as seen from Earth. Although it won’t be much of a year to observe Saturn’s rings, the good news is that the view from Earth will by then be widening, and destined to get wider as they tilt back toward Earth. They’ll continue to become more visible and brighter until 2032.
Saturn’s rings are made from dust and water particles but are around 98% ice. They’re about a mile thick and stretch to 87,000 miles (140,000 kilometers) from the planet.
Wishing you clear skies and wide eyes.