Saturn's rings. Artwork of chunks of rock and ice forming one of the rings of Saturn. Saturn is seen in the background at upper left. The most visible

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Saturn's rings. Artwork of chunks of rock and ice forming one of the rings of Saturn. Saturn is seen in the background at upper left. The most visible rings extend outwards from Saturn for around 120,000 kilometres. The rings, only about one kilometre thick, consist of millions of rock and ice chunks. They are thought to have formed from the disintegration of a moon that was too close to Saturn, or was hit by a comet or asteroid. Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, is mostly hydrogen and helium, with cloud colours due to chemicals such as methane.

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Size: 5206px × 3386px
Photo credit: © GARY HINCKS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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