Final answer:
The rings orbiting Saturn's equator are due to the planet’s gravitational forces, which create flat, stable ring systems influenced by the gravitational pull of Saturn's moons. The visibility and structure of Saturn's rings are largely due to their composition of ice particles, which reflect sunlight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The rings orbiting Saturn's equator rather than spreading in a haze about the whole planet are due to the planet's gravitational forces. These forces have broken larger pieces apart or kept small pieces from gathering together, resulting in rings that are flat and aligned along the equator. The particles in Saturn's rings are mostly water ice, which reflects sunlight, making them bright and highly visible from afar.
Saturn's rings are intricate and have complicated forms that are influenced by the pull of the moons orbiting the planet. These moons create gravitational resonances that organize the particles into a stable, flat ring system around the equator, rather than allowing them to spread out into a haze covering the planet. Additionally, ice from moons like Enceladus contributes to maintaining some of the rings, particularly the E Ring.