FURTHER EVIDENCE FOR IMPACTS IN THE OUTER SOLAR SYSTEM (2)

• RINGS:

  • Most Giant planets have rings, but they can’t have survived since the beginning of the solar system.
  • Therefore they are likely debris from impacts:
    • Jupiter: Sunlight/solar wind would have blown them away if formed at time of SS formation
    • Saturn: Too bright to be very old, should have been darkened by meteorites
    • Saturn: Also too icy to have survived heat of SS formation.

Notes: