Rings around Earth? New study suggests asteroid breakup once gave the planet Saturn-like rings

Recent research suggests that Earth may have had rings similar to Saturn in the past. According to a study published in Earth and Planetary Science Letters, scientists believe Earth's rings might have been formed around 466 million years ago from an asteroid that was pulled in by Earth's gravity.

The lead author, Andy Tomkins, a professor of planetary science at Monash University in Australia, explained, "Over millions of years, material from this ring gradually fell to Earth, creating the spike in meteorite impacts observed in the geological record."

Also Read: 4.6 bn-year-old Asteroid FW13 from early solar system is racing towards Earth at 35,000 mph, NASA warns


Researchers came to this conclusion after examining 21 asteroid impact craters from the Ordovician period, which lasted from 485 million to 443 million years ago. They discovered that all impacts occurred within 30 degrees of the equator, despite most of Earth's continental crust being located outside this area. This pattern could not be explained by existing theories.

Evidence from sedimentary rocks supports the hypothesis, as layers from this period contain large amounts of meteorite debris. The rings may have also influenced Earth's climate by blocking sunlight and contributing to a global cooling event known as the Hirnantian Icehouse.

While this finding is intriguing, further evidence is needed to confirm the hypothesis.