Saturn/Neptune/Uranus

The spacecraft ___ has orbited and studied Saturn up-close since 2005 & did so until 2017.

• Voyager

• Cassini

• New Horizons

• Galileo

Saturn has the most extensive ring system in the solar system - but it is only

• a few meters thick.

• a few thousand years old.

• an optical illusion that "disappears" sometimes.

• made up of rock & small debris.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The atmosphere of Saturn is very similar to that of Jupiter because

• the two planets are about the same size.

• they both have a single giant storm system.

• it contains mostly hydrogen & helium.

• it has traces of methane which gives it cloud bands.

Tags

NGSS.MS-PS1-1

Since Saturn is just over twice as far as Jupiter is from the Sun - it takes about

• 8 earth-years to orbit once.

• 29 earth-years to orbit once.

• four times as long to complete one orbit.

• 10 hours to spin once on its axis.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-1

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

The planetary structure of Saturn is likely similar to Jupiter in that it has a relatively

• small icy/rocky core surrounded by liquid metallic hydrogen.

• small mantle of liquid hydrogen surrounded by gas.

• slow spin rate.

• large upper atmosphere made of methane.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

Saturn (like Jupiter) also has a strong magnetic field. This creates ___ at its poles.

• massive hurricanes

• cloud banding

• auroras

• more ring structures

Saturn's overall density is about ___ - which is less than the density of water!

• the same as Jupiter

• the same as Earth

• 5.55 g/cm³

• .678 g/cm³

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

Saturn's largest moon Titan is also the largest in the solar system.

• True

• False

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

What other unique feature of Titan make it such an unusual moon?

• its proximity to Saturn itself

• a thick atmosphere that is at least twice that of Earth's

• a subsurface ocean of water ice

• solid water/ice surface

In our solar system, Saturn is the _____

• largest planet
• second largest planet
• third largest planet
• fourth largest planet

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3