Post

Periodic reminder that Jupiter has rings.

This view is from JWST and shows Jupiter in the infrared. The planet's Main Ring is visible at left; closer in (but not really resolved here) is the torus-shaped Gossamer Ring. Farther out are two additional rings, supplied by materials knocked off two irregular moons (Amalthea and Thebe).

Jupiter's rings are much less striking than Saturn's because they contain much less ice and are more dusty. Even so, the rings around Uranus and Neptune suggest that ring systems (formed by stuff from moons and/or from initial planetary formation) are an intrinsic feature of giant planets.