Origins of rings in the solar system

TL;DR

This paper reviews the discovery and origins of ring systems around both giant planets and small solar system objects, highlighting recent unexpected findings and discussing possible formation mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the origins and evolution of rings around diverse solar system bodies, including recent discoveries of rings beyond the Roche limit.

Findings

Dense rings found around small objects like Chariklo and Quaoar.

Rings orbiting beyond the Roche limit challenge existing formation theories.

New insights into the origins and evolution of planetary and small-body rings.

Abstract

Until about a decade ago, ring systems were only known to exist around giant planets. Each one of the four giant planets harbours its own distinctive and unique system of rings and inner satellites. The past decade has been marked by the unexpected discoveries of dense rings around small objects of the outer solar system: the Centaur object Chariklo (and possibly Chiron), the dwarf planet Haumea and the trans-Neptunian object Quaoar. In the latter case, an additional surprise came from the fact that Quaoar's rings orbit well beyond the Roche limit of the body. Here, we address the possible origins and evolution of these ring systems.