Galileo Galilei was the first to observe them in 1610. But he did not realize that they were rings at the time. He thought that they were a triple planet system.
He described them as "the planet Saturn is not alone, but is composed of three, which almost touch one another and never move nor change with respect to one another. They are arranged in a line parallel to the zodiac, and the middle one (Saturn itself) is about three times the size of the lateral ones (the edges of the rings)."
Christiaan Huygens became the first person to suggest that Saturn was surrounded by a ring in 1655. He used a telescope far superior to those available to Galileo.
Huygens observed Saturn and wrote that "It (Saturn) is surrounded by a thin, flat, ring, nowhere touching, inclined to the ecliptic."
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That was the famous Galileo. He observed "protrusions" from the planet, but he didn't identify them as rings. It was actually ChristiaanHuygens who first realised they were rings around Saturn.
He described them saying: "The planet Saturn is not alone, but is composed of three, which almost touch one another and never move nor change with respect to one another. They are arranged in a line parallel to the zodiac, and the middle one (Saturn itself) is about three times the size of the lateral ones [the edges of the rings]."
Christiaan Huygens was the first person to suggest that they were rings in 1655. He wrote: "It [Saturn] is surrounded by a thin, flat, ring, nowhere touching, inclined to the ecliptic."
Giovanni Domenico Cassini in1684. Future Astronomer, Hanna, also a poptropica expert :)
Galileo Galei was the first to observe Saturn's rings in 1610 but could not identify them as rings. It was only later in 1655 that Christiaan Huygens was able to prove that they were indeeed rings surrounding the planet.
Saturn rings
Saturn was the first planet discovered to have rings. They were first observed by Galileo Galilei in 1610 through his telescope.
Saturn!
Giovanni Domenico Cassini in1684. Future Astronomer, Hanna, also a poptropica expert :)
The Cassini spacecraft is named after Giovanni Domenico Cassini, an Italian-French astronomer who discovered four of Saturn's moons and the large gap in its rings now known as the Cassini Division.
Galileo Galei was the first to observe Saturn's rings in 1610 but could not identify them as rings. It was only later in 1655 that Christiaan Huygens was able to prove that they were indeeed rings surrounding the planet.
Saturn rings
they discovered rings
The rings around Saturn make it one of the most beautiful telescopic objects in the sky. Famous Italian astronomer Galileo admired the planet almost 400 years ago, and wrote of its 'peculiar appearance' in 1610. But it was 1655 before the beautiful ring structure around Saturn was identified-by Dutch astronomer Christian Huygens.
Saturn was discovered in Pisa, Italy by Galileo Galilei in 1610. Galileo also observed and discovered Saturn's Rings
1610
Saturn was the first planet discovered to have rings. They were first observed by Galileo Galilei in 1610 through his telescope.
The Cassini Division is located in Saturn's rings, which are made up of ice, dust, and rocky particles. It is a large gap between Saturn's A and B rings named after Giovanni Cassini, the Italian astronomer who discovered it in the 17th century.
Saturn!
Giovanni Domenico Cassini discovered the division between Saturn's rings in the year 1675. This prominent division, known as the Cassini Division, is a gap between the A and B rings of Saturn and is named in his honor.