Saturn is twice the distance from the Sun as Uranus, it is the 6th planet from the Sun. Named after the Roman God of Agriculture. Known for its rings around the planet. 1 day on Saturn is 10.5 Earth hours, 1 year on Saturn is 29 Earth years.

1610, Galileo spotted Saturn's rings but they were "oddly shaped bumps on the planet." One of his thoughts on them were that they were triple planet configuration. 1655, Dutch astronomer Christian Huygens recognised the bump as a clear, flat ring circling the planet. These rings could be either remains of a destroyed moon or remnants of Saturn's formation.
Saturn has 4 main ring groups & 3 smaller groups that circle the planet equatorially. 1980 & 1981, Voyager observed that the rings are actually 10,000s of narrow ringlets. Saturn has the same axis tilt as Earth so during Saturn's orbit, we see it tilting towards the sun & then tilting away.
Not the only planet that has rings. All the Outer Solar System planets have rings. Saturn's is most beautiful. What makes up these rings? Reflect over 80% of sunlight that hits them, it was thought the rings were made of ice. 1970s, research proved this statement as true, Voyager & Cassini showed that the particles vary from mm-m. Most have a similar size & composition to that of a snowball on Earth.
They are not continuous from inner to outer. The gaps are where moons & moonlets orbit the planet, clearing their path as they go. 3 major gaps; Cassini Division, Atlas' path, Encke Gap, Pan's path & Keeler Gap, Daphnis' path. Thought to be 20 smaller gaps within the rings, moonlets are thought to create these gaps.
Each ring has their own atmosphere! Created of oxygen & hydrogen that the Sun's rays make after coming in contact with the ice.

Atmospheric composition is like Jupiter's with helium & hydrogen, but there is less helium than there is in Jupiter. Methane & ammonia are also present. There are 3 layers of clouds on Saturn, helium, being heaviest, sinks to the bottom. The planet is so light, it can float in a sufficient amount of water.
What is responsible for the amount of helium in the atmosphere? Internal temperature is lower than Jupiter's. There is so much helium that it condenses & it rains all the time internally, depleting the outer atmosphere. Around 2,000,000,000 years ago, it is thought that there was a mist of helium, but since temperatures have dropped, it caused the mist to condense.
Doesn't have storms like Jupiter. Colour is fairly uniform. Stable east-west wind flow. The wind flow is faster than Jupiter's. There is a 400.726656km/h winds along the equatorial line heading eastward on Jupiter, but the wind on Saturn reaches 1,499.90861km/h! There are fewer wind bands as well. Saturn has an internal energy source that emits more energy than it absorbs from the Sun. This causes the planet to cool quickly, which will cause more helium precipitation which, in turn, will create high energy production & high temperatures.

Saturn has the most complicated of satellite systems in our Solar System, that's even without its rings. It is suspected there is more satellites, only 53 have been named. It largest moon is Titan, it takes up 90% of the mass of everything orbiting Saturn, including its rings. Its so big, its as big as Mercury & has its own gravitational pull & affects the other satellites surrounding Saturn.
Titan is 2nd largest moon & only one to have its own atmosphere. Often compared to Earth with its composition, only other celestial body to have a nitrogen-rich atmosphere, it is actually denser than Earth's. Its atmosphere is also comprised of methane, as well as argon & other elements. 2004, Cassini-Huygens reached Titan & found liquid nitrogen in the polar regions. Only other object in the Solar System that has a stable surface liquid.
It has a rocky core with a mantle made of ice. Several km under this mantle, there is a layer of liquid.
Scientists are looking for life on the surface and under the mantle in the liquid. The environment might shift and may be habitable in the future!

Lesson 6 Quiz-100%=10 points=O=Outstanding
Taken only once. No due date. 3 questions True/False, 2 questions Open Ended, 2 Multiple Choice questions.

Spot the Difference-97%=9 points=O=Outstanding
Review Chapter 11 (Asteroids, Meteors & Other Celestial Bodies) in textbook, Magicis Stellarum et Planetae. Explain what meteoroids, meteors, meteorites, comets & asteroids are, describe differences between them. Difference meteoroids, meteors & meteorites, how they differ from comets & asteroids. Easy format, no list of definitions.

10% Spelling/Grammar
15% Word Requirements (150 words, over not under)
5% Identifying Marks
70% Bulk of Essay (Follow prompt clearly, cover all topics)
Plagiarism=Automatic fail
Taken only once. No due date.