Does a planet's axial tilt and seasonal progression affect a planetary-ring system, as seen from the planet surface?

Ok, so I have determined my world can keep it's planetary ring system. YAY! Now I just need to clarify once and for how it would look like from the planet surface. I think I have it worked out, but definitely need second and third opinions.

I curious to the impact of the planet's axial tilt and the progression of the seasons

NOTE: This is about the CHANGING 'look', based on known planetary positions with regards to the Sun throughout the year, and not about the impact on the climate (totally different question lined up for that one)!

ASSUME:

1) Single star system.

2) Earth-sized planet

3) Rings aligned with the planet's equator.

4) Similar Axial tilt to Earth.

5) You are looking at the rings from the exact same spot on your planet throughout the day, night and year (hopefully with a couple of beers in handy shady spot nearby).

6) You have enough to keep yourself occupied all year...

You can use this old, still amazing, youtube video by Roy Prol as a reference if you like.

What I would like to know is:

1) Would it appear to set and rise through the day taking into account the planet shadow on the ring surface? I am aware the rings will still shine at night due to reflections from the various light sources so I'm assuming it wouldn't disappear altogether during this 'setting' and 'rising' period. But would there be a noticeable difference in the arc brightness at any particular time? This part of my question actually seems to already be answered here! Onto the next conundrum.

2) Would you always see the same amount of ring width throughout the year or would this shift with the seasons? I'm thinking there would be something of a range between the equinoxes and solstices.

BONUS related question, would there be a corresponding effect on the width and 'intensity' of the ring shadow on the planet's surface?

3) Would the time of day you saw the rings differ with the seasons? for example, from your randomly chosen spot to sit for an entire year, would you have no visible rings during winter days but visible during winter nights; and vice versa, would they be visible during the summer days but not summer nights.

OR, Is all that I have imagined dependent on the ring system being on an ecliptic orbit? If so, great! (high five me!) Is it possible to have a stable ring system on an ecliptic orbit? (ah, man...back to the drawing board!)

posted almost 8 years ago

EveryBitHelps‭

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