Saturn

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

• Voyager

• Cassini

• New Horizons

• Galileo

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3

NGSS.MS-PS2-4

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

Saturn emits more radiation than it receives from the Sun - most likely due to

• its position as the 6th planet from the Sun.

• the extensive ring system.

• core-mantle spin differentiation.

• "helium precipitation" falling inward from its atmosphere.

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-2

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

Although there aren't as many storms & bright cloud banding as Jupiter, Saturn still has

• as many lightning strikes as Jupiter.

• a very weak magnetic field.

• a very dense structure overall.

• fast equatorial wind speeds of over 1000 km (620 mph).

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

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-ESS1-3

The equatorial diameter of Saturn is that of ___ earths - making it the second largest planet.

• 9.5

• 12

• 6

• 2

Tags

NGSS.MS-ESS1-3