What would our days be like if earth had rings like Saturn? Would the shadows from the rings cause a dark time in the middle of the day?
2007-10-25 06:38:24 · 7 answers · asked by G 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
The rings would be shading the surface from the sun during the winter time in each hemisphere. It wouldn't be complete shade, as many have said, but it would definitely be blocking a good amount of the Sun's light.
From the surface, the rings would be more or less the same in the sky all 24hrs, except for variations in the textural appearance as different parts of them rotated around.
Depending on the size of the rings, and distance from Earth, they would cover a different part of the sky. From the surface, the sun would appear to move behind them during the winter when its course through the sky is lower. The amount of time
the sun is behind them would also depend on your latitude. Equatorial latitudes would be much less affected.
In the summer, the sun would be "jumping over" the rings from your point of view.
The end result of these rings would be much colder winters. The summers would be a bit warmer as well, because a portion of the light reflected by the rings would be hitting the summer hemisphere - adding more light = adding more heat.
2007-10-25 08:11:34 · answer #1 · answered by ZeroByte 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Consider the following page where the image shows the shadows of Saturn's rings on Saturn:
http://www.wired.com/science/space/multimedia/2007/10/gallery_cassini?slide=2&slideView=2
2007-10-25 07:07:57 · answer #2 · answered by helper 1 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If Earth Had Rings
2016-10-03 09:14:06 · answer #3 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the rings of saturn aren't solid masses, but many pieces of sand, rock, ice etc etc. so there might be a slight shadow cast down but not a huge block of 'shadow' covering a particular area, imo.
2007-10-25 06:44:17 · answer #4 · answered by scauma 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
it'd be awesome seeing huge rings of dust in the sky every day
nah i don't think that it'd block out the suns rays since it isn't a solid ring light would still get through
so
i think it wouldn't block out the sky but rather illuminate in sky and we'd have a big shiny line covering a chunk of sky
2007-10-25 06:57:08 · answer #5 · answered by EeE 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
you would get up and not want to get out of bed.
not want to go to work.
someone at luch would say hey its so clear today that I can see the rings.
and you would say yeah, and think to yourself shut up stupid.
The end.
2007-10-25 07:12:08 · answer #6 · answered by DannyB 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
then it should always be saturday!
2007-10-25 06:44:26 · answer #7 · answered by Dugro 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋