Saturn is the second largest planet in our Solar System with a diameter of 120,536 kilometers and a mass 94.3 times that of Earth., and its diameter is nine times larger. Its magnetic field is 1000 times stronger. It rotates about once every 11 hours, and its period of revolution is 29.5 years. Its distance from the Sun is 1,427,000,000 kilometers (9.555 AU). Its structure is similar to Jupiter with a small solid core, surrounded by a layer of ice, a layer of metallic hydrogen, and an outer layer of liquid hydrogen and helium. Its density is only 0.7 grams per cubic centimeter (it would float on water!). .
The most distinctive feature of Saturn is its system of three prominent rings, which are less than 50 meters thick, inclined at 27 degrees to Saturn's orbital plane. They are believed to be composed of particles of ice and ice coated rocks ranging in size from a few micrometers to approximately 10 meters in diameter. These rings are visible from Earth through a telescope. Voyager I and Voyager II flights showed the rings to be really very complicated system of several individual ringlets.
Outside the main visible rings, lie 20 or more moons os Saturn. Most are small with diameters 30 to 100 kilometers. They all have the same period of rotation as revolution, like our Moon, thus showing the same face to Saturn, and move in circular orbits. Phoebe revolves in the opposite direction with an orbit inclined at 150 degrees, and so is probably a captured asteroid. The largest moon of Saturn is Titan, with a diameter of 5150 Km, and a density of 1.9 grams per cubic centimeters. It is the only satellite in the solar system known to have a dense, hazy atmosphere, made up of nitrogen (90%), argon (less than 10%), methane (less than 2%) and traces of hydrocarbons.
How were the rings caused. Within a certain distance of any planet's center, called the tidal stability limit or the Roche limit, the planet's tidal force due to gravity, acting on a large, solid, revolving object will tear the object apart. The Roche limit is directly proportional to the planet's radius and is a function of the planet's and the orbiting object's density. For Saturn it is about 2.5. So any object within 2.5 times Saturn's radius will be shattered. Saturn's outer A ring is at 2.3 times its radii. For more details about the Roche limit, click below.
For Details of Saturn, Click below
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|