Saturn solar system science basic ppt.ppt

saturn

1. SaturnSaturn
Presentation by: Heather DeRoyPresentation by: Heather DeRoy

2. Basic FactsBasic Facts

66
thth
Planet from the Sun Planet from the Sun

22
ndnd
Largest Planet in the Solar System Largest Planet in the Solar System

7 thin, flat rings7 thin, flat rings

62 Moons62 Moons

3. Ancient ObservationsAncient Observations

Farthest planet prehistoric astronomers knewFarthest planet prehistoric astronomers knew

Used in mythologyUsed in mythology

Planet can be seen by Earth with the naked Planet can be seen by Earth with the naked
eye, but the rings cannoteye, but the rings cannot

4. Saturn the NameSaturn the Name

Roman god of agriculture and Roman god of agriculture and
harvestharvest

Father of Ceres, Jupiter, Pluto, Father of Ceres, Jupiter, Pluto,
and Neptuneand Neptune

Ruled during the Golden Age of Ruled during the Golden Age of
MenMen

Saturn represents limits of Saturn represents limits of
control as it was thought to be control as it was thought to be
the limit of the Solar Systemthe limit of the Solar System

5. Unlucky SaturnUnlucky Saturn

In Astrology, Saturn is blamed for all In Astrology, Saturn is blamed for all
things sad, unfortunate, and terriblethings sad, unfortunate, and terrible

6. Size of SaturnSize of Saturn
22
ndnd
largest planet in the largest planet in the
Solar SystemSolar System
95 Earth masses95 Earth masses
““Gas Giant” along with Gas Giant” along with
Jupiter, Uranus and Jupiter, Uranus and
NeptuneNeptune
Diameter 120,540km Diameter 120,540km
(10x Earth)(10x Earth)

7. DensityDensity

Lowest of all the planetsLowest of all the planets

1/10 the density of Earth1/10 the density of Earth

2/3 dense as water2/3 dense as water

Saturn would float in water!Saturn would float in water!

8. Saturn’s OrbitSaturn’s Orbit

Aphelion ~ 10.1 AU ; Perihelion ~ 9.0 AUAphelion ~ 10.1 AU ; Perihelion ~ 9.0 AU

Period of Orbit – 29.46 Earth years Period of Orbit – 29.46 Earth years

Axis tilt of 27 degreesAxis tilt of 27 degrees

Eccentricity of .056Eccentricity of .056

Rotation is 2Rotation is 2
ndnd
fastest of known planets fastest of known planets

Saturn rotates ~ 10 hours 39 minutesSaturn rotates ~ 10 hours 39 minutes

9. Shape of SaturnShape of Saturn

Rapid rotation causes the planet to bulgeRapid rotation causes the planet to bulge

Oblate spheroid – flattened at poles and Oblate spheroid – flattened at poles and
bulges at equatorbulges at equator

RingsRings

10. Saturn’s RingsSaturn’s Rings

Discovered by Galileo (1600s)Discovered by Galileo (1600s)

Rings tilt at same angle as Rings tilt at same angle as
equatorequator

~20m thick~20m thick

93% water ice composition, 93% water ice composition,
7% amorphous carbon7% amorphous carbon

7 rings made up of thousands 7 rings made up of thousands
of ringlets, made up of billions of ringlets, made up of billions
of ice particlesof ice particles

Particles range in size from Particles range in size from
dust to a cardust to a car

11. 2 Main Ring Theories2 Main Ring Theories

Theory 1Theory 1

Remnants of destroyed moon of SaturnRemnants of destroyed moon of Saturn

Theory 2Theory 2

Rings left over from original nebular material that Rings left over from original nebular material that
formed Saturnformed Saturn

Some ice comes from the moon Some ice comes from the moon
Enceladus’ ice volcanoesEnceladus’ ice volcanoes

12. Saturn’s SurfaceSaturn’s Surface

Saturn is a giant ball of gasSaturn is a giant ball of gas

Believed to have no solid surfaceBelieved to have no solid surface

Inner core of iron and rocky materialInner core of iron and rocky material

Outer core of ammonia, methane, and Outer core of ammonia, methane, and
waterwater

Liquid metallic hydrogen surrounds outer Liquid metallic hydrogen surrounds outer
corecore

Hydrogen and helium in a viscous formHydrogen and helium in a viscous form

13. Saturn’s AtmosphereSaturn’s Atmosphere

The surface and The surface and
atmosphere merge atmosphere merge
(hydrogen and helium)(hydrogen and helium)

Dense clouds cover Dense clouds cover
SaturnSaturn

Difference in temperature Difference in temperature
and altitude cause and altitude cause
patterns and color patterns and color
differences in cloud topsdifferences in cloud tops

Hexagon clouds at North Hexagon clouds at North
PolePole

14. TemperatureTemperature
Tilt of axis causes Tilt of axis causes
seasons on Saturnseasons on Saturn
Each season = 7.5 Earth Each season = 7.5 Earth
years (Saturn takes 29x years (Saturn takes 29x
longer than Earth to longer than Earth to
revolve)revolve)
Top of clouds is -175 Top of clouds is -175
degrees C (-285 F)degrees C (-285 F)
Below clouds is hot – Below clouds is hot –
planet gives off 2.5x the planet gives off 2.5x the
heat it receives from the heat it receives from the
SunSun

15. MoonsMoons

62 Moons62 Moons

Largest, Titan (diameter 5,150km) is larger Largest, Titan (diameter 5,150km) is larger
than Mercury and Pluto and contains an than Mercury and Pluto and contains an
atmosphereatmosphere

16. DiscoveryDiscovery

Galileo discovered rings 1610, though Galileo discovered rings 1610, though
believed they were moons on either sidebelieved they were moons on either side

Christian Huygens first coined “Rings” Christian Huygens first coined “Rings”
16651665

17. ExplorationExploration

1973, Pioneer-Saturn launched by 1973, Pioneer-Saturn launched by
U.S.U.S.

Flew within 20,900km of SaturnFlew within 20,900km of Saturn

Sent close-up picturesSent close-up pictures

Discovery of 2 outer ringsDiscovery of 2 outer rings

Found a magnetic field 1000 times Found a magnetic field 1000 times
stronger than the Earth’sstronger than the Earth’s

18. Pioneer 11 Photos (1970s)Pioneer 11 Photos (1970s)

19. Exploration Exploration

1977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 21977, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2

Confirmed existence of 7Confirmed existence of 7
thth
ring ring

Discovered planet’s rings are made of ringletsDiscovered planet’s rings are made of ringlets

Discovery of 9 satellitesDiscovery of 9 satellites

Atmosphere of Titan is nitrogenAtmosphere of Titan is nitrogen

20. Photos from Voyager 1Photos from Voyager 1

SaturnSaturn

Haze over TitanHaze over Titan

F RingF Ring

21. Photos from Voyager 2Photos from Voyager 2

SaturnSaturn

IapetusIapetus

EnceladusEnceladus

TitanTitan

22. ExplorationExploration

1997 Cassini probe1997 Cassini probe

Began orbiting Saturn in 2004Began orbiting Saturn in 2004

Studying Saturn, its rings, and its satellitesStudying Saturn, its rings, and its satellites

First spacecraft to orbit Saturn (between F and G First spacecraft to orbit Saturn (between F and G
rings)rings)

23. 
New Moons Daphnis and PhoebeNew Moons Daphnis and Phoebe

TitanTitan

EclipseEclipse
Cassini ProbeCassini Probe

24. Saturn Mysteries?Saturn Mysteries?

Much to learn about the rings Much to learn about the rings

Strange featuresStrange features

Clean ice suggests only few hundred million Clean ice suggests only few hundred million
years old?years old?

Hexagon clouds at North PoleHexagon clouds at North Pole

Rotation impossible to pinpoint Rotation impossible to pinpoint
(approximate day calculated)(approximate day calculated)

25. ReferencesReferences

Spinrad, Hyron. "Saturn." World Book Spinrad, Hyron. "Saturn." World Book
Online Reference Center. 2004. World Online Reference Center. 2004. World
Book, Inc. Book, Inc.
http://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Articlehttp://www.worldbookonline.com/wb/Article
?id=ar492440. ?id=ar492440.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
Saturn#Planetary_ringsSaturn#Planetary_rings