1. Saturn from HST

2. Saturn from Voyager a 9.5 AU P 29.5 yr i (orb) 2.5o e 0.056 Prot
0.43 d
i (rot)
27o R
9.5 RE M
95 ME r
0.69 g/cc g
1 gE
vesc
36 km/s A
0.46

3. Oblateness of Saturn

5. Saturn Highlights Magnetic field about 2/3 of Earth’s
Atmosphere and interior structure similar to Jupiter
Yellowish-tan clouds and fewer dynamic storms
Rings are splendoriforous!

6. Saturn’s Magnetosphere

7. Multi-Wavelength Saturn

9. Saturnian Atmosphere

10. Interior of Saturn

11. Internal Heat of Saturn
Sat. receives on 25% as much sunlight as Jup.
Yet, Sat. emits 50% more than what it absorbs!
Similar to Jup., but for same reason?
No! Heat from gravitational contraction should now be gone, since Sat. is smaller
Instead, He may be draining thru metallic H mantle to the core, thereby liberating heat
In hotter Jup., He remains dissolved – no draining
Consequence: He depleted in Sat. atm. – explains why He/H = 1/4 for Jup. but 1/7 for Sat.

12. Artsy “Ring World”
1610: Galileo first observed the rings of Saturn, but not clearly; appeared more like appendages (sorta like a triple planet)
1660’s: Rings clearly seen to encircle the planet; ring gaps discovered (Cassini’s division, Encke’s division)
1859: Maxwell shows that the rings cannot be solid
1895: Keeler confirms Maxwell with measurements

13. The Rings of Saturn
Rings are 200,000 km across, but less than 0.2 km thick!
Consist mostly of icy particles, ranging in size from 1 cm to 10 m
Rings reside inside the Roche Limit
Main features:
Gaps
Sharp edges
Spokes
Shepherding satellites

14. Saturn’s Rings

15. Enceladus Above the Rings

16. Spokes on the Rings

17. Scale Model of Saturnian System

18. Rings of the Gas Giants