08-07-2025
An object has hit Saturn - astronomers need help finding out what it is
Astronomers are investigating a potential impact on Saturn, observed by amateur astronomer Mario Rana, which could be the first recorded instance of a space object hitting the gas giant.
The unconfirmed event reportedly occurred on 5 July 2025, between 9am and 9.15am UT, appearing as a faint glow in video footage captured by Rana.
Unlike rocky planets, gas giants such as Saturn do not retain impact craters, and previous smaller strikes have not been directly observed.
The Planetary Virtual Observatory and Laboratory (PVOL) and Professor Leigh N Fletcher are urging other amateur astronomers to share any videos from the specified timeframe to help confirm or refute the impact.
Studies suggest large objects strike Saturn approximately once every 3,125 years, while smaller space rocks hit more frequently but have never been witnessed.
