This is a 3D animation of how the earth would look if it had a ring system like Saturn. From the creators of the video:

Ring views from the Earth’s surface were created according to the location’s latitude, northern or southern hemisphere, and the viewer’s orientation. The size of the rings was calculated respecting the Roche limit for the Earth.

(via Nerdcore)

How interesting it’d be to examine the affect this ring could have created on our history, religion, culture, ancient art, and in turn the course of the future.

p.s. a fine reason to blow up the moon.

If the Earth had a ring, I assume it would not have a large moon.  No tides, and I think there’s some issue of the Earth’s axis not being stable without the moon.  In any case, life would certainly not have taken the same path.

I think there’s a Discovery Channel documentary, “If We Had No Moon.”