<p>While such a scenario would be unlikely, all you'd need is an existing ring and an icy moon to enter inside the Roche limit at a measurably different inclination. I wouldn't want to guess how long a set-up like that would be stable, but it's possible to have one.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T15:43:51.297Z
If the rings didn't intersect, it might go on for some time. If one ring developed with shepherding moons to keep the inner edge of the ring further away from the planet, a moon with a higher inclination might get torn up and form a ring in the gap between the older ring and the planet. This state of affairs would probably exist for a few million years.
Even Saturn's rings aren't stable. The inner portion is slowly deorbiting into Saturn, so maybe in a few hundred million years, Saturn's rings will be vestigial at best.
Howard Miller
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T23:17:27.733Z
I'll leave this open until this afternoon (it's morning here) but if no other answers come up this'll get my tick.
XenoDwarf
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T06:42:16.133Z
2016-07-11T21:45:15.393Z
2016-07-11T21:45:15.393Z
userLTK
<p>The answer is a bit more complex than what userLTK presents.<br>
<strong>Tides</strong> play a huge role for the orientation of the rings.  </p>

<p>If the ring system has an inclination relative towards the planet, then <em>inclination damping</em> will occur.
This means that the planet, that is flattened due to its own rotation, will exert asymmetric force tugs onto orbiting masses, until the force tugs are symmetric again, which is the case for zero inclination. This works well beyond the Roche-sphere of a planet.</p>

<p>Think about Uranus ring and moon-system. </p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/3VF4Z.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/3VF4Z.jpg" alt="(c) Keck Telescope team"></a> (c) Keck Telescope Team </p>

<p>It seems implausible from a planetary formation viewpoint that Uranus could have an inclined subdisc from which the rings and moons formed at this inclination.</p>

<p>What seems more likely is that the planet was tilted, and then forced rings and moons to follow.</p>

<p><strong>Summarizing</strong><br>
<strong>Yes</strong> on very short timescales, but then the rings would look messier and thicker as they would have to be just freshly formed.<br>
<strong>No</strong> on long timescales (~10.000 years based on <a href="https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1743921314008321" rel="noreferrer">a quick google search</a>).</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-10-20T11:40:46.127Z
2016-10-20T11:40:46.127Z
AtmosphericPrisonEscape
<p>My title doesn't do my question justice in explaining, but the kind of satellite system I'm thinking of is two rings on two separate axis, much like (if you've seen it) the film 'Treasure Planet' shown below.</p>

<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/wnc1D.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/wnc1D.jpg" alt="enter image description here"></a></p>

<p>My guess is no, as the ring of a planet matches it's axis, but I was wondering whether or not some other phenomenon or influence could cause this formation.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T20:18:28.560Z
It's not stable long term, but for a short while it would be fine.
Florin Andrei
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T20:26:21.913Z
If the rings intersect, I wouldn't expect it to last very long at all.
Keith Thompson
CC BY-SA 3.0
2016-07-11T21:00:33.077Z
It's likely it could not even form at all if the rings would intersect.
Florin Andrei
<planetary-ring>
Could a cross-ringed planet exist?
XenoDwarf
# Could a cross-ringed planet exist?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2016-07-11)

My title doesn't do my question justice in explaining, but the kind of satellite system I'm thinking of is two rings on two separate axis, much like (if you've seen it) the film 'Treasure Planet' shown below.

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/wnc1D.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/wnc1D.jpg)

My guess is no, as the ring of a planet matches it's axis, but I was wondering whether or not some other phenomenon or influence could cause this formation.

**Tags:** planetary-ring

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: It's not stable long term, but for a short while it would be fine.  
> **username_2**: If the rings intersect, I wouldn't expect it to last very long at all.  
> **username_1**: It's likely it could not even form at all if the rings would intersect.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_5 on 2016-10-20. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

The answer is a bit more complex than what username_3 presents.  
**Tides** play a huge role for the orientation of the rings.

If the ring system has an inclination relative towards the planet, then *inclination damping* will occur.
This means that the planet, that is flattened due to its own rotation, will exert asymmetric force tugs onto orbiting masses, until the force tugs are symmetric again, which is the case for zero inclination. This works well beyond the Roche-sphere of a planet.

Think about Uranus ring and moon-system.

[![(c) Keck Telescope team](https://i.sstatic.net/3VF4Z.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/3VF4Z.jpg) (c) Keck Telescope Team

It seems implausible from a planetary formation viewpoint that Uranus could have an inclined subdisc from which the rings and moons formed at this inclination.

What seems more likely is that the planet was tilted, and then forced rings and moons to follow.

**Summarizing**  
**Yes** on very short timescales, but then the rings would look messier and thicker as they would have to be just freshly formed.  
**No** on long timescales (~10.000 years based on [a quick google search](https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/S1743921314008321)).


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### Answer by username_3 on 2016-07-11. Score: 11

While such a scenario would be unlikely, all you'd need is an existing ring and an icy moon to enter inside the Roche limit at a measurably different inclination. I wouldn't want to guess how long a set-up like that would be stable, but it's possible to have one.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: If the rings didn't intersect, it might go on for some time. If one ring developed with shepherding moons to keep the inner edge of the ring further away from the planet, a moon with a higher inclination might get torn up and form a ring in the gap between the older ring and the planet. This state of affairs would probably exist for a few million years. Even Saturn's rings aren't stable. The inner portion is slowly deorbiting into Saturn, so maybe in a few hundred million years, Saturn's rings will be vestigial at best.  
> **username_0**: I'll leave this open until this afternoon (it's morning here) but if no other answers come up this'll get my tick.  

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