BBC News: Giant moon collision ‘may have formed Saturn’s rings’.
“Saturn’s rings may have formed when a large moon with an icy mantle and rocky core spiralled into the nascent planet. A US scientist has suggested that the tidal forces ripped off some of the moon’s mantle before the actual impact. The theory could shed light on the rings’ mainly water-ice composition that has puzzled researchers for decades.” I seem to remember this theory being bandied about in elementary school (mid-‘60s now) ... ? Everything old is new again?
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