| Saturn, sixth from the sun, is one of the biggest planets in our solar system. It is famous for the rings that surround it, an estimated 100,000 ringlets by Voyager 2. Saturn was discovered by Galileo in 1610 using one of the first telescopes. At first, Galileo thought that the rings were attached, but was later proven wrong by Dutch astronomer Christiaan Huygens. The rings are named from the planet out: D, C, B, A, F, G, and E. A and B can be seen easily under a telescope, but D and E can only be seen under optimal conditions. All together, the rings spread out to about 136, 200km(84, 650mi), but may only be fm(16ft) thick in areas. Later, it was discovered that there was a gap between rings A and B, and that gap is called Cassini's Division after French astronomer Giovanni Cassini | |
| Pioneer 11 in September
1979, Voyager 1 in November 1980, and Voyager 2 in August 1981 were the
main source of Saturnian knowledge. From this we learned that the
planet is mostly made up of hydrogen(88%), helium(11%), methane,
ammonia, ammonia crystals, and other gases such as ethane, acetylane, and
phosphine. and that the pressure inside is so high, it turns the hydrogen
into liquid. At the very core, there is a substance called metallic
hydrogen, which is a electrical conductor. Because of currents
going through this, it is thought that this is the cause of Saturns magnetic
field. At the top of the clouds, the temperature is recorded to be
around -176C(-285F). One of the unusual things about Saturn is how
quickly it rotates on its axis. It only takes 10 hours 39 minutes
and 25 seconds for it to complete rotate. Strong winds may be the
reason for that. Winds on Saturn have been recorded to reach speeds
close to 1,700m/hr(1,060mph).
Saturn has more than 20 moons. The majority of them are made out of light, icy substances. The five largest are Mimas, Enceladus, Tethys, Dione, and Rhea, which are heavily cratered from meteorite impacts. Scientists believe that it is Enceladus that supplies particles to Saturns E ring. The largest of Saturns moons is Titan. Titan's diameter is around 5150m(3200mi) larger than Mercurys. An actual diamter has not been taken because it is not possible to get information through the dense, orange haze that covers it. Most of the atmosphere is made up of Nitrogen, methane, ethane, acetlyane, ethylane, helium, cyanide, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. |
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