Wunderground.com-4/26/13, Miriam Kramer

Saturn's rings just can't catch a break.

The billions of tiny particles of rock and ice orbiting Saturn are constantly hammered by other space rock fragments. Now, thanks to a rare occurrence, scientists have seen these cosmic impacts in action.

Saturn's orbit around the sun is equivalent to about 30 Earth years. On about the 15th year of that cycle  — which happened most recently in 2009 — the lengths of Saturn's day and night were equal, which allowed the sun to cast a shadow on the planet's rings.

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