Hypothetical Ringed Planet

I'm contemplating a writing a piece of science fiction that would take
place on a planet that is roughly earth-like in diameter, tilt, and
distance from a roughly Sol-like sun, but which has icy rings about
its equator like Saturn's. I have several questions about this:

1. Is such a planet plausible? Is there anything known about the
formation of solar systems that would make it unlikely?

2. Can anyone suggest tools I can use to help visualize what the sky
would look like from the surface of the planet at different latitudes,
during different seasons, and at different times of day and night?
Can anyone suggest existing fiction (or non-fiction) works that
describe this in some detail?

3. During winter seasons, some latitudes will be entirely in the
shadow of the rings (to the extent that the rings are opaque). During
the summer, the extra solar reflection from the rings will add quite a
bit to the brightness of daylight. So each hemisphere (north and
south) will swing radically from hot to cold through the seasons (more
so than earth). I'm interested in any speculation about what this
would do to the planet's weather systems.

Any thoughts appreciated,
M.
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Review: Alien Planet (2005)
    ... > distinction between science and science fiction, ... "Alien Planet", based on Wayne Barlowe's book EXPEDITON ... > scientists comment on what is happening in the story. ...
    (rec.arts.movies.current-films)
  • Re: Why is there a Hexagonal shaped feature on top of Saturn?
    ... to me,however it is also expressed in the geometry of natural ... Be that as it may I am interested in what others think of the feature, ... What role might the core of the planet play in its structure? ... the planet has pronounced rings as ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)
  • Hubble Camera Snags Rare View of Uranus Rings
    ... Hubble Camera Snags Rare View of Uranus Rings ... A rare image of the ring system of the planet Uranus has been captured ...
    (sci.space.news)
  • Hubble Camera Snags Rare View of Uranus Rings
    ... Hubble Camera Snags Rare View of Uranus Rings ... A rare image of the ring system of the planet Uranus has been captured ...
    (sci.astro.hubble)
  • Are rings of Saturn evidence of a young solar system/universe?
    ... Creationists say that the rings of Saturn are just one of several ... The Delicate Rings of Saturn - The Age of the Universe ... Scientists on Dilemma's Horns," in Creation Research Society ... "Saturn, a planet of nearly one hundred times the mass of our earth, ...
    (sci.astro.amateur)