2007-04-19 05:49:26 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
It really depends on what you consider a ring. If you are talking about largely defined changes in color that can be viewed from great distances, its seven. If your talking about changes in composition wth respect to distance from the planet, now its an infinite amount. (each change in distance represents a new composition of material).
The problem is they really aren't rings at all... they are debris feilds left over from countless great cosmic impacts with the gas giant, Saturn. In fact, all gas giants have rings to some extent.
2007-04-19 06:00:44 · answer #1 · answered by The Big Lebowski 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Saturn has thousands, possibly millions of rings of ice and rock that surround it, with a few distinct bands that make it look like less...there are moons in between some of these rings that help the rings keep their shape ^_^
2007-04-19 12:57:34 · answer #2 · answered by Vaalea 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Millions
2007-04-19 12:53:03 · answer #3 · answered by kris 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
There are many, many rings, and of different types; Generally, there are 8 ring 'sections', each of which can be composed of many smaller rings. (and, one of those 'sections' is devoid of a ring completely.)
2007-04-19 12:56:46 · answer #4 · answered by quantumclaustrophobe 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Around 7 I suppose. But didn't they teach you that back in school? You can read about it in any space encyclopedia/dictionary you know.
2007-04-19 12:53:30 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
apparently 7 major divisions subdivided into thousands of individual ringlets.
2007-04-19 12:56:13 · answer #6 · answered by ichigo 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you consider each chuck of ice, billions.
There are actually 8 major 'divions'
2007-04-19 13:37:09 · answer #7 · answered by Wedge 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Here they are ...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Saturn#Table
2007-04-19 12:55:40 · answer #8 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋