Saturn - Chapter 14 Semi-major axis: 9.54 A.U. Orbital Period: 29.5 Earth yrs.

3. Saturn - Chapter 14Semi-major axis: 9.54 A.U.Orbital Period: 29.5 Earth yrs.

4. Saturn is much fainter than Jupiter or Mars; its brightness is behind Jupiter, the inner planets, and several of the brightest stars.

5. Saturn is less than 1/3 the mass of Jupiter.5.6 x 1029g (95x Earth’s)Radius 60,000km(9.4 Earth radii)

8. Average density is 0.7 g/cm3(less dense than water)

9. Saturn rotates rapidly and differentially. Rotation of the magnetosphere and the high latitudes is 10 hrs 40 min. At the equator the planet rotates in 10 hr 14 min.

10. This rapid rotation makes Saturn even more oblate (flattened) than Jupiter.

12. Saturn probably has a rocky core like Jupiter.

13. Saturn’s axis is tilted 27° (similar to Earth and Mars) so one would expect seasonal type changes.

14. Rings - have a thickness less than a few hundred meters, but 200,000 km in diameter.

17. Atmosphere - much less colorful than Jupiter. No spots, ovals, or contrasting bands.(None visible from Earth.)

18. Atmosphere is gaseous H2, He, CH4, NH3.H2 - 92% He - 7% CH4 & NH3 - less than 0.25% total (10x as much CH4 as NH3)

19. There is less percentage of He on Saturn than on Jupiter (14% on Jupiter) or in the Sun. It is believed that the helium sank toward the planet’s center because it is denser than Hydrogen.

20. The atmosphere is similar to Jupiter’s except it is cooler because the planet is farther from the Sun and the clouds are thicker.

21. There is a layer of haze followed by layers of NH3, then NH4SH, and then H2O ice. These last three layers are 200 km thick total (only 80 km total on Jupiter).

22. These layers are thicker because of Saturn’s weaker gravity.

23. Saturn’s clouds are thicker, so there are fewer holes and gaps in the top layer to show through to the more colorful layers below.

24. This is why Saturn has more uniform appearance than Jupiter. The entire planet has a uniform butterscotch hue.

27. Weather- The causes are essentially the same as those on Jupiter (rapid rotation and convection).The zonal flow is much faster than on Jupiter.

28. The equatorial eastward jet stream is 400kph on Jupiter, 1500kph on Saturn.

29. The first westward flows occur at 40°N and 40°S latitude. 40°N shows the strongest bands and the most obvious ovals, this is the most turbulent area of the planet.

30. It is not understood why the areas of greatest turbulence are different than on Jupiter.

31. A large white spot was seen in 1990. It was the first one seen since 1933. These could be composed of NH3 ice crystals.

35. Top Ten Nasa Excuses for Losing the Mars Space Probe.

36. 10. Forgot to attach The Club

37. 9. With all the budget cuts, it was either successful space probe or good office Christmas party

38. 8. Thingamajig on the doohickey musta been on the fritz

39. 7. It got probe-jacked by space punks

40. 6. Should’ve fed in about another ten bucks in quarters

41. 5. According to the official rules, our dads couldn’t help us put it together

42. 4. Must’ve strayed into Klingon territory

43. 3. Mars is smaller than Earth, harder to hit

44. 2. Those lying weasels at Radio Shack

45. 1. Mars probe? What Mars probe?