The
rings of Saturn are the most extensive
planetary ring system of any
planet in the
Solar System. They consist of countless small particles, ranging in size from micrometres to metres, that
orbit about
Saturn. The ring particles are made almost entirely of water ice, with a trace component of
rocky material. In February 2016, studies suggest that more opaque areas of the rings may not contain more material. There is still no consensus as to their mechanism of formation; some features of the rings suggest a relatively recent origin, but theoretical models indicate they are likely to have formed early in the Solar System's history.