Gourt > Science > Astronomy > Solar System > Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is a gas giant (also known as a Jovian planet, after the planet Jupiter), the second-largest planet in the solar system after Jupiter. Saturn has a prominent system of rings, consisting mostly of ice particles with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust. It was named after the Roman god Saturn. Its symbol is a stylized representation of the god's sickle (Unicode: ). [http://www.crystalinks.com/saturnmyth.html
Physical characteristics
Saturn is an oblate spheroid. It is flattened at the poles and bulging at the equator; its equatorial and polar diameters vary by almost 10% (120,536 km vs. 108,728 km). This is the result of its rapid rotation and fluid state. The other gas planets are also oblate, but to a lesser degree. Saturn is the only one of the Solar System's planets that is less dense than water, with an average specific density of 0.69. This is a mean value; Saturn's upper atmosphere is less dense and its core is considerably more dense than water. Saturn's interior is similar to Jupiter's, having a rocky core at the center, a liquid metallic hydrogen layer above that, and a molecular hydrogen layer above that. Traces of various ices are also present. Saturn has a very hot interior, reaching 12,000 Kelvin at the core, and it radiates more energy into space than it receives from the Sun. Most of the extra energy is generated by the Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism (slow gravitational compression), but this alone may not be sufficient to explain Saturn's heat production. An additional proposed mechanism by which Saturn may generate some of its heat is the "raining out" of droplets of helium deep in Saturn's interior, the droplets of helium releasing heat by friction as they fall down through the lighter hydrogen.
Saturn's atmosphere exhibits a banded pattern similar to Jupiter's (in fact, the nomenclature is the same), but Saturn's bands are much fainter and are also much wider near the equator. Saturn's winds are among the Solar System's fastest; Voyager data indicates peak easterly winds of 500 m/s (1116 mph)Solarviews. Saturn's finer cloud patterns were not observed until the Voyager flybys. Since then, however, Earth-based telescopy has improved to the point where regular observations can be made.
More on [ Saturn ]
Pioneer :: Outer Solar System
Voyager :: Outer Solar System
Tonight @ Knitting Factory 8-12! .357 Lover, Jason Trachtenburg, NY1's Roger Clark, Kissy Kamikaze, Magic Brian, Ms. Saturn, and more! $5
8ofSwordsTattoo (Dave C. Wallin) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:01:54 -0000
Tonight @ Knitting Factory 8-12! .357 Lover, Jason Trachtenburg, NY1's Roger Clark, Kissy Kamikaze, Magic Brian, Ms. Saturn, and more! $5
jetzt bei saturn: 3in1-nackt-scan-kopier-fax-gerät, 19.999,99
poske (paul poske) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:59:40 -0000
jetzt bei saturn: 3in1-nackt-scan-kopier-fax-gerät, 19.999,99
@laurennicole56 I do watch it. Like Uranus Saturn Neptune and juptiur balls.
keeanu (Keanu Noriega) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:56:28 -0000
@laurennicole56 I do watch it. Like Uranus Saturn Neptune and juptiur balls.
@carolynporco Actually, LBJ shut down Saturn V production...
JPL_DC (JPL_DC) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:55:58 -0000
@carolynporco Actually, LBJ shut down Saturn V production...
@perf3ctmale black saturn
Probl3m (Dante wilson) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:52:40 -0000
@perf3ctmale black saturn
If you want an adrenaline boost drive a 4 cyl 97 Saturn on the 10,110,101 & 405 freeways in light traffic. Woohee!
jeremyspeaks (Jeremy Johnson) Tue, 05 Jan 2010 20:52:21 -0000
If you want an adrenaline boost drive a 4 cyl 97 Saturn on the 10,110,101 & 405 freeways in light traffic. Woohee!
Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere of Saturn - A brief article by C. T. Russel and J. G. Luhmann.
NSSDC Photo Gallery: Saturn - Selected pictures with brief descriptions and captions, mostly from Voyager 1 and 2.
Meta Description: [ NSSDC Photo Gallery: Saturn - A collection of images of the planet Saturn, its rings, and its satellites ]
Ring Plane Crossings of 1995-1996 - News and pictures taken by several observatories during this event, with the rings seen edge-on from the Earth.
Meta Description: [ The Cassini-Huygens Mission to the Saturnian system is a multinational cooperation between three space agencies and 17 nations. Starting in 2004, the spacecraft will explore Saturn, its mysterious rings and its many moons. The Cassini spacecraft will orbit the ringed planet for four years. The Hu... ]
Saturn - Includes early mythology and discovery of the gaseous planet. Includes information about its satellites.
Saturn Events - Links, resources and news relating to the planet.
Saturn Ring Plane Crossing Workshop - Program and abstracts from a workshop held at Wellesley, MA, on observations of the 1995-6 event.
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Saturn Viewer - Online software that generates diagrams in postscript files showing the relative position of Earth, Sun, Saturn and its rings and satellites.
Saturn's Ring System - Pictures, animations, excerpts from scientific magazines and links.
Meta Description: [ Overview of the Saturnian ring system.
Many images, animations and references are included for both the scientist
and the public. ]
The Nine Planets: Saturn - General information, some statistical data and links.
The Planet Saturn - Pictures and quizzes about the planet, its moons and its ring system.
Meta Description: [ Planet Saturn. Pictures and quizzes about the planet Saturn. Information about the planet Saturn. Opposition of Saturn December 2003! ]
The Saturnian Irregulars - Pictures, animations, technical information, news and IAU circulars about the irregular satellites.
The Solar System in Action: Saturn - General information about the planet and its moons presented in a popular language.
Meta Description: [ Saturn - ringed beauty. From ORRERY: the Solar System in action. ]
Views of the Solar System: Saturn - Views, animations, general information and data of the planet and its satellites.
Meta Description: [ Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and is the second largest in the solar system with an equatorial diameter of 119,300 km. Saturn is visibly flattened at the poles, a result of the very fast rotation of the planet on its axis. ]
Welcome to the Planets: Saturn - Images from NASA's planetary exploration program.
Windows to the Universe: Saturn - An overview of the planet and its moons including general information, data, pictures, news, historical and mythological background. Versions available for beginner, intermediate and advanced level users.
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