Saturn
The Gas Giant
Saturn’s Overview
• Sixth planet from the sun.
• Second largest in the solar system.
• Superior planet (orbit is farther from the sun than
the earth’s orbit).
• Jovian or “Gas giant” with an average radius about
nine times that of Earth.
• Has an elliptic orbit.
• Visible from Earth.
• 62 known moons (53 officially named).
Saturn’s Characteristics
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Aphelion: 10.11595804 AU.
Perihelion: 9.04807635 AU.
Mass: 5.6846×1026 kg (about 95 x Earth).
Volume: 8.2713×1014 km3.
Surface Temperature: -168 °C.
Orbital Period: About 29 years.
Synodic period: About 379 days.
Brightness: -0.49 (maximum with all rings open).
Surface Gravity: 10.44 m/s.
Saturn’s Interior and Atmosphere
• It’s interior is probably
composed of a core
of iron, nickel and rock
(silicon and oxygen
compounds).
• It’s atmosphere is
composed of 75%
Hydrogen and 25% Helium,
with trace amounts of
other substances like water
ice and methane.
Saturn Facts
• Looks pale yellow because of ammonia crystals in its
upper atmosphere.
• Rotation of the planet causes it to take the shape of
spheroid.
• Radiates 2.5 times more energy into space than it
receives from the sun.
• Has a magnetic field 578x more powerful than Earth.
• Does not have a solid surface.
• Cannot support life.
Saturn’s Moons
• Has 62 known moons (24
are regular satellites, 38
are irregular satellites).
• Titan is the largest moon
that orbits Saturn and has
several characteristics to
support life including a
nitrogen-rich atmosphere
like Earth and a landscape
including hydrocarbon
lakes and dry river
networks.
Saturn’s Great White Spot and Rings
Great White Spots:
• Periodic storms visible from
Earth.
• Can be several thousands of
kilometers wide.
• Occurs every 28.5 years.
Rings:
• Extends from 6,630 km to
120,700 km above Saturn's
equator, averaging 20 meters in
thickness
• Composed of 93% water ice
and 7% amorphous carbon.
Probes and Missions on Saturn
Four probes have landed and explored Saturn.
• Pioneer 11: In 1979 (took low resolution pictures).
• Voyager 1: In 1980 (took first high-resolution
pictures).
• Voyager 2: In 1981 (continued studies made by
Voyage 1 and gathered evidence of change in
atmosphere)
• Cassini-Huygens: In 2004 (landed on several moons
as well and sent back vast information).
Works Cited
• Egolf, R. Terrance. Space & Earth Science. South
California. BJU Press, 2005. Print.
• Erickson, Kristen. Solar System Exploration. National
Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Web.
2 Feb. 2015.
<http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Ob
ject=Saturn>
• Space and NASA News. Purch. Web. 2 Feb. 2015.
<http://www.space.com/48-saturn-the-solarsystems-major-ring-bearer.html>
• Jones, Chris. Space Facts. Web. 2 Feb. 2015.
<http://space-facts.com/saturn/>