Scientists are predicting Mars might someday get a ring around it

An illustration of planet Mars
(Image credit: iStock)

Mark your calendars: In a mere 20 million to 40 million years, Mars might also be sporting a ring, scientists predicted Monday in the journal Nature Geoscience.

One of Mars' two moons, Phobos, may eventually fall apart, thanks to gravity distorting it and pulling it closer to Mars. If it does crumble, as scientists expect, rather than crashing into the planet, the debris would form a ring around Mars, Popular Science reports. It would be like Saturn's, but likely smaller and denser.

Mars' ring could last 100 million years. Enjoy, future Martian overlords.

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Julie Kliegman

Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.