A cosmic optical illusion will make Saturn’s rings disappear in 2025
source : www.creativebloq.com
We’ve seen all kinds of optical illusions in recent years, from rotating horses to countless objects that appear to be moving despite being stationary. But just when it feels like we’ve seen them all, it looks like we’re about to get another lesson in how our eyes can deceive us from none other than one of the largest planets in the solar system.
Saturn, the sixth planet from the sun, is best known for its rings, but apparently they are disappearing. These formations of orbiting ice particles, rocks and space dust are visible from Earth through telescopes and have fascinated astronomers since the time of Galileo. But in 2025, that may no longer be the case.
According to the NASA video above, Saturn’s rings will disappear in the long term, but that’s not the immediate problem. In 2025, the rings will still be there, we just can’t see them.
Saturn’s seven rings are very deep, but they are only about ten meters thick, and how well we can see them depends on Saturn’s alignment with Earth. Saturn is currently tilted at an angle of about 9 degrees, making it possible to see the rings. But next year that tilt will only be 3.7 degrees. And in 2025, Saturn’s axis will be vertical, with the rings forming a horizontal strip parallel to Earth. They will be too narrow to see.
However, Saturn’s optical illusion will not be permanent. The planet has a 29.5 year cycle and will slowly begin to reveal the bottom of the rings as it begins to tilt again, reaching its maximum tilt in 2032. However, astrophotographers who want to capture the rings will have to do so in the coming months. or wait until 2025 (watch a photographer capture stunning optical illusion photos of the moon).
source : www.creativebloq.com
