A different view of Uranus’ rings
By Ron Cowen
As seen from Earth, the rings of Uranus are now precisely edge on. It’s the first time this alignment has occurred since Uranus’ rings—now known to number 13—were discovered in 1977, and the event is providing an unprecedented view of the planet’s small, inner rings.
Twice in every 84-year orbit of Uranus, the tilted plane of its rings lines up with the center of the solar system.