Saturn's Rings to Appear Invisible During Rare Alignment

The ring plane crossing, a phenomenon occurring every 13 to 15 years, will peak on Sunday but remain mostly unobservable due to Saturn's proximity to the Sun.

• Saturn's rings will appear to vanish from Earth's view this weekend as they align edge-on with the planet, creating a rare optical illusion.
• The event, known as a ring plane crossing, happens roughly every 13 to 15 years due to Saturn's axial tilt and orbital mechanics.
• The alignment reduces glare, providing astronomers with a rare chance to observe Saturn's smaller moons more clearly.
• The phenomenon will peak on Sunday, March 23, 2025, at approximately 12:04 p.m. ET but will not be visible to most observers because Saturn is too close to the Sun.
• The next fully visible ring plane crossing from Earth is anticipated in 2038, offering a clearer view of this rare celestial event.

3 Articles

NBC News Gizmodo New York Post