Why do planets have rings?

Astronomers believe these rings formed from bits of asteroids and comets that were captured by the powerful gravity of these ‘’gas giants.’’ Saturn’s rings are the easiest to spot. More than 170,000 miles (270,000 km) wide, dappled with spokes that rotate at different rates, Saturn’s awe- inspiring ring system is actually a glittering shower of ice and rock that orbits the planet. And although the rings stretch about three-fourths of the distance between the Earth and the moon, they’re incredibly thin – about 30 feet (9 m) wide in places.

 

Picture Credit : Google