Saturn has always been my favorite planet because, well… those cool rings, of course! But, come 2025 those famous rings might completely disappear!
But fret not, it's just an optical illusion, and, fortunately, they are not going to be gone for good! Saturn's seven rings are very deep, but they're only about ten meters thick, and how well we can see them depends on Saturn's alignment with Earth. Saturn is currently tilted at about a 9 degree angle, which makes it possible to see the rings. But next year, that tilt will be just 3.7 degrees. And in 2025, Saturn's axis will be vertical with the rings a horizontal strip parallel to Earth. They will be too narrow to see!
Saturn's optical illusion will not be permanent, however. The planet has a 29.5-year cycle and will slowly start to reveal the underside of the rings as it starts to tilt again, reaching its maximum tilt in 2032.
We've seen all manner of optical illusions in recent years, from rotating horses to countless objects that appear to be moving despite being still. But just when it feels like we've seen them all, it seems we're about to receive another lesson in how our eyes can trick us from none other less one of the biggest planets in the solar system.
https://www.creativebloq.com/news/saturn-rings-optical-illusion
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