1Saturn


 * The Gaseous Saturn**

__**A larger look into the Gaseous Planets:**__ Saturn is but one of four gaseous planets in the Milky Way: Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune. The most common and noticable features about these planets is their superior size to the terrestrial planets, and are mostly composed of gas material. These gas giants occupy the outer regions of the Milky Way solar system, a region which is seperated by the asteroid belt, and are called joval planets. Each of these planets has a certain characteristic that makes them unique and special in their own way, such as how Saturn's large, magestic orbiting rings single it out amoungst the cosmos. The jovial planets share common traits in their atmospheric composition. In general all celestial body atmospheres will be divided into layers, but the interesting thing is the actual ingredients to these atmospheres; common ingredients include: methane, helium, and hydrogen. Though these are only the common gases of the jovial planets atmospheres, some of the planets will consist more than just these elements. Other than their extentsive amount of gas material, it is in theory that these planets posses a solid core; however, the solid core of these planets is indeed miniscul compared to their thick gaseous layers.

Intro.** Saturn is indeed one of the jovian planets that occupy our solar system, meaning that it is one of the giant gas planets. Saturn itself is probably most identifiable by its large rings that orbit its massive body, and yellowish color with gray moving clouds across its surface. Saturn is behind Jupiter in planetary size, thus giving it the title of second largest planet in the solar system. Currently Saturn's atmosphere consist of four different gases: hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia. Besides Saturn's physical traits, Saturn has up to **52 currently known satellites or moons** orbiting it. Saturn is truly one of the marvels within human conception and within our solar system. Saturn is singular in its characteristics and features, and thus makes it unique and independent in its beauty.
 * __Saturn__

Saturn's atmosphere is **composed of hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia.** Within Saturn's atmosphere hydrogen is the most prominent element, having a much greater percentage than any of the other three present gases. The percentage of each of the gases within Saturn is as follows: forming Saturn's complete physical structure.
 * __Saturn's atmosphere__**[[image:AAAKKPY0.GIF width="279" height="330" align="right"]]
 * hydrogen 92.7%, helium 7.4%, methane 0.2%, and ammonia 0.02%**. These gases are all vital in

Saturn like all planets is divided into layers, with each layer being defined by its feature and characteristics. Even though Saturn is a gas giant it posses a rocky core like its fellow gas giants. The rocky core in comparison to Saturn's overall size is very small; yet the rocky core when compared to the Earth is fifteen times larger in size than Earth, so either way Saturn's rocky core is still large. Saturn's layers begin with its **rocky core**, outside the rocky core is **metallic hydrogen, then liquid hydrogen**. The liquid hydrogen layer is the last interior layer before Saturn's atmospheric layers, in all Saturn has five atmospheric layers. Starting from lowest layer which is **water ice**, then **ammonium hydrodsulfide ice**, then **ammonia ice**, then **haze or the Troposphere**, and finally the upper most layer the **Stratosphere**.
 * Saturn Interior**

Saturn, being the 6th planet from the Sun, has a long **revolution time of 29.5** Earth years. Despite its massive size it has a relatively short rotation period, at the equator Saturn makes one **rotation in 10.67 hours**, and rotates on an axis of 27 degrees. This quick rotation is remarkable for a planet with a **diameter of 119,871 km**. In addition to Saturn's diameter, it has a **mass of 586.5x10^24 kg**, and a **density of 687kg/m^3**. With all these measurements in mind, a quick rotation on such mass would cause Saturn to actually flatten. Saturn is actually considered the flattest planet in the solar system. As mentioned, Saturn being the 6th planet from the Sun and is the second jovial planet beyond the asteroid belt makes it a great length from the Sun. Saturn's actual distance varies from a **minimum of 1.35 billion km to a maximum of 1.5 billion km from the Sun**. Being so far, Saturn receives less energy from the Sun and is thus much cooler than the terrestrial (inner) planets. Saturn has a **temperature of -170 degrees Celsius or -274 degrees Fahrenheit.** All planets generate what is known as a gravitational pull; Saturn has a higher surface gravity relative to Earth's own, but is certainly no rival to the gravity of other celestial bodies like the Sun and Jupiter. Saturn has a **surface gravity of 8.9 m/s^2 (0.92x Earth's gravity)**.
 * Saturn Characteristics**

__**Saturn's rings**__ Radius Radius approx. approx. Name inner outer width position mass (kg) -- -- - D-Ring 67,000 74,500 7,500 (ring) Guerin Division C-Ring 74,500 92,000 17,500 (ring) 1.1e18 Maxwell Division 87,500 88,000 500 (divide) B-Ring 92,000 117,500 25,500 (ring) 2.8e19 Cassini Division 115,800 120,600 4,800 (divide) Huygens Gap 117,680 (n/a) 285-440 (subdiv) A-Ring 122,200 136,800 14,600 (ring) 6.2e18 Encke Minima 126,430 129,940 3,500 29%-53% Encke Division 133,410 133,740 Keeler Gap 136,510 136,550 F-Ring 140,210 30-500 (ring) G-Ring 165,800 173,800 8,000 (ring) 1e7? E-Ring 180,000 480,000 300,000 (ring) (table from [] - 2005)

__**Moons of Saturn**__ Currently known, Saturn has 52 moons as reported by the Cassini spacecraft. [|Aegir], [|Albiorix], [|Anthe], [|Atlas], [|Bebhionn], [|Bergelmir], [|Bestla], [|Calypso], [|Daphnis], [|Dione], [|Enceladus], [|Epimetheus], [|Erriapus], [|Farbauti], [|Fenrir], [|Fornjot], [|Greip], [|Hati], [|Helene], [|Hyperion], [|Hyrokkin], [|Iapetus], [|Ijiraq], [|Janus], [|Jarnsaxa], [|Kari], [|Kiviuq], [|Loge], [|Methone], [|Mimas], [|Mundilfari], [|Narvi], [|Paaliaq], [|Pallene], [|Pan], [|Pandora], [|Phoebe], [|Polydeuces], [|Prometheus], [|Rhea], [|Siarnaq], [|Skadi], [|Skoll], [|Surtur], [|Suttung], [|Tarqeq], [|Tarvos], [|Telesto], [|Tethys], [|Thrym], [|Titan] and [|Ymir].

__**Discovery of Saturn**__ Saturn was first discovered by Galileo in 1610;although, the methods of viewing Saturn at the time were rather poor. Since Galileo's visual was rather poor, he didn't know what the bumps protracting from the planets sides were. Galileo decided to call the extensions of this newly discoverd planet the ears. Later on in 1656 a Dutch scientist named Christian Huygens would build a larger and improved telescope that would allow him to get a clearer view of Saturn, and discover that the ears Galileo mentioned were really a solid ring around the planet. Though with the passing of time scientist improved on the telescope and discovered that the ring of Saturn was really multiple rings. Other discoveries of Saturn were the discovery of its composition and satillites. By sending probes, most recently the Cassini spacecraft, discovered more satillites orbiting Saturn. In the 1930's methane was first detected in the spectrum of sunlight reflected from Saturn. Ammonia was also detected in the early 1960's and hydrogen and helium was detected in the late 1960's.

__**Myth of Saturn**__ Most of the planets in the solar system have names that are some how connected to mythology, mostly Roman and Greek mythology. Saturn was the name belonging to a god within Roman mythology. Saturn was a god of agriculture that was mainly concerned with growing plants. He is also the husband of Ops and is the father of Jupiter, Ceres, and Juno. When Saturn was chased away by Jupiter, he was taken in by the god Janus. During this time was a period of peace and prosperity, also known as the Golden Age. In addition to Saturn being named after the Roman god Saturn, but the week day Saturday was too named after the god.


 * __Interesting Facts__**
 * Named after Roman god Saturn
 * Considered flattest planet in solar system
 * Known for large bands of rings
 * Axis of 27 degrees
 * Gaseous planet are largest planets in solar system
 * Gaseous planets are believed to have a rocky core
 * Saturn would float on water, if it could be placed in an ocean big enough.


 * __Biography__**
 * 1) Chaisson Eric Astronomy Today. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice-Hall, Inc, 2002
 * 2) World Book. Chicago, IL: World Book Inc, 2007
 * Web Links** (Part of Biography)
 * 1) []
 * 2) [] - [|www.nineplanets.org]
 * 3) [|www.solarviews.com]
 * 4) [] - [|www.nasa.gov]
 * 5) []
 * 6) []
 * 7) []


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