Scientists analyze 21 ancient craters and hypothesize that Earth once had rings 466 million years ago, formed by debris from a fragmented asteroid.

Written by Fabio Lucas Carvalho

Published on 08/06/2026 at 06:23

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Evidence published by researchers from Monash University indicates that 21 craters from the Ordovician impact peak appear concentrated within 30° of the equator, despite much of the preservable crust being outside this range, reinforcing the hypothesis of an ancient debris ring around the Earth

The hypothesis that Earth once had rings, more discreet than Saturn’s, gained traction after a study linked Ordovician craters to an unusual equatorial band and debris from an ancient asteroid fragmented near the planet.

The Earth may have exhibited rings about 466 million years ago, during the Ordovician, after a large fragment linked to L chondrites broke apart near the planet and spread debris around the equator.

Earth, Saturn, and the rings of the Solar System

Saturn remains the most well-known planet for its bright rings. Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune also have similar structures, although less visible. The possibility that Earth had rings broadens this comparison within the Solar System.

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Craters concentrated near the equator

The study analyzed the paleolatitudes of 21 impact craters formed during an anomalous interval of approximately 40 million years, known as the Ordovician impact peak.

All the craters appear in an equatorial band of up to 30°. This pattern is striking because about 70% of the exposed crust, with the potential to preserve craters, was outside this region.

For the authors, the distribution may be linked to the fragmentation of a large piece of the parent body of L chondrites during an approach to Earth. The debris would have formed a ring, with material later falling onto the planet.

Rings more tenuous than Saturn’s

The evidence suggests that these possible Earth rings were more tenuous than Saturn’s. Even so, they could have influenced the planet by casting debris and, in a speculative hypothesis, shading part of the surface.

The report also raises the possibility that this shading may have contributed to the cooling associated with the global glacial period Hirnantian.

The study “Evidence suggesting that Earth had a ring in the Ordovician”, published in November 2024 on sciencedirect.com, was authored by Andrew G. Tomkins, Erin L. Martin, and Peter A. Cawood, from Monash University, Australia.

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Scientists analyze 21 ancient craters and hypothesize that Earth once had rings 466 million years ago, formed by debris from a fragmented asteroid.

Evidence published by researchers from Monash University indicates that 21 craters from the Ordovician impact peak appear concentrated within 30° of the equator, despite much of the preservable crust being outside this range, reinforcing the hypothesis of an ancient debris ring around the Earth

Earth, Saturn, and the rings of the Solar System

Craters concentrated near the equator

Rings more tenuous than Saturn’s

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Scientists analyze 21 ancient craters and hypothesize that Earth once had rings 466 million years ago, formed by debris from a fragmented asteroid.

Evidence published by researchers from Monash University indicates that 21 craters from the Ordovician impact peak appear concentrated within 30° of the equator, despite much of the preservable crust being outside this range, reinforcing the hypothesis of an ancient debris ring around the Earth

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Craters concentrated near the equator

Rings more tenuous than Saturn’s

The end of Nokia: the brand that was the cellphone of an entire generation has ended its smartphones, left Brazil, and today survives only in basic phones in India while seeking a new partner.

Workers were opening a modern road in Dover when they found, 6 meters below the asphalt, a 3,500-year-old boat made of stitched oak and plant fibers.

Dissatisfied with seeing people sleeping on the street, a man named Ryan Donais started building small mobile homes so that homeless people can escape the cold, each equipped with a bed, running water, electricity, and heating.

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