Saturn, The Sixth Planet From The Sun

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Named after the Roman god of agriculture, Saturn, its astronomical symbol () represents the god's sic le. !he associated "ree god, #ronus, $as the son of %ranus and "aia and the father of &eus (Jupiter). Saturn is the root of the 'nglish $ord (Saturday(. Saturn is a gas giant $ith an a)erage radius about nine times that of 'arth. Saturn $as first )isited by N*S*'s +ioneer ,, in ,-.- and later by /oyager , and /oyager 0. #assini (a 1oint N*S* 2 'S* pro1ect) arri)ed on July ,, 0334. 5i e Jupiter, Saturn is about .67 hydrogen and 067 helium $ith traces of $ater, methane, ammonia and (roc (, similar to the composition of the primordial Solar Nebula from $hich the solar system $as formed. (Saturn's interior consists of a roc y core, a li8uid hydrogen layer and a molecular hydrogen exterior layer. !races of )arious ices are also present.) Saturn has a prominent ring system that consists of nine continuous main rings and three discontinuous arcs, composed mostly of ice particles $ith a smaller amount of roc y debris and dust. Sixty9t$o no$n main moons orbit the planet: fifty9three are officially named. Titan, the largest, is larger than the planet ;ercury, and is the Solar System's second largest moon. Saturn's second largest moon, Rhea, may ha)e a tenuous ring system of its o$n, along $ith a tenuous atmosphere. ;any of the other moons are )ery small< =4 are less than ,3 m in diameter and another ,4 less than 63 m but larger than ,3 m. !itan is the only satellite in the Solar System $ith a ma1or atmosphere in $hich a complex organic chemistry occurs. >t is the only satellite $ith hydrocarbon traces. ?n June @, 03,=, scientists at the >**9#S># (>nstitute of *strophysics of *ndalusia) reported the detection of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the

upper atmosphere of !itan, a possible precursor for life. Saturn's moon Enceladus has often been regarded as a potential base for microbial life. Ahen it is in the nighttime s y, Saturn is easily )isible to the unaided eye. !hough it is not nearly as bright as Jupiter, it is easy to identify as a planet because it doesn't (t$in le( li e the stars do. !he rings and the larger satellites are )isible $ith a small astronomical telescope.