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Saturn

Saturn. Astronomy 311 Professor Lee Carkner Lecture 18. Which of the following is a major component of Jupiter’s clouds?. Water Ammonia Molecular hydrogen a and b only a, b, and c. In what region does Jupiter generate its strong magnetic field?. Rock/ice core

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Saturn

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  1. Saturn Astronomy 311 Professor Lee Carkner Lecture 18

  2. Which of the following is a major component of Jupiter’s clouds? • Water • Ammonia • Molecular hydrogen • a and b only • a, b, and c

  3. In what region does Jupiter generate its strong magnetic field? • Rock/ice core • Liquid metallic hydrogen mantle • Molecular hydrogen atmosphere • Dust ring • Alternating cloud bands

  4. What causes the vertical motion of Jupiter’s belts and zones? • Convection • Rotation • Ionization • The Coriolis force • Liquid metallic hydrogen

  5. As we go deeper into Jupiter, we find, • The temperature increases • The colors of the clouds change • The composition of the clouds change • b and c only • a, b, and c

  6. Saturn -- King of the Titans • He was overthrown by Jupiter who became king of the gods • Saturn’s symbol is the sickle

  7. Viewing Saturn from Earth • First viewed through a telescope by Galileo • Modern telescopes reveal a series of rings and cloud patterns in Saturn’s atmosphere

  8. Saturn Facts • Size: 9.5 Earth diameters • Orbit: 9.5 AU • Description: smaller, more distant Jupiter with rings

  9. Viewing Saturn from Space • Hubble Space Telescope has provided many images • Orbiting Saturn to study it long term • Dropped a probe (Huygens) into Titan’s atmosphere

  10. Path of Cassini

  11. Saturn’s Atmosphere • Saturn has belts, zones, ovals and storms, but they are less distinct than on Jupiter • Nothing like the Great Red Spot • Saturn sometimes has storms that burst up from below

  12. Composition of Atmosphere • We believe that Saturn has an atmospheric structure similar to Jupiter’s • Middle layer of Ammonium Hydrosulfide (NH4SH) • We don’t see all of the layers as clearly as we do on Jupiter

  13. Saturn’s Dullness • The temperature of Saturn’s atmosphere increases more slowly with depth than Jupiter because: • Due to weaker gravity the layers are more spread out • As a result • Upper layers obscure the deeper layers

  14. Saturn and Jupiter’s Atmospheric Structure

  15. Saturn’s Heat • Saturn is smaller than Jupiter and should have radiated much of its heat away by now • Theory: the helium condensed into droplets and fell towards the core liberating gravitational energy • Calculations seem to support this

  16. Saturn’s Interior • Saturn has a very low density (690 kg/m3) • This means it must have a large core (26% of the mass) • Saturn is much less massive than Jupiter so there is less gravity to compress the hydrogen • Due to slower rotation, less liquid hydrogen and blocking of charged particles by the rings

  17. Internal Structure of Jupiter and Saturn

  18. Saturn’s Rings • Saturn’s rings appear very bright but very thin from Earth • Rings reflect 80% of light that hits them • The inner rings moves faster than the outer rings • Size = 1cm to 5m (average ~10 cm)

  19. Rings and Tides • This is the region where the tidal force pulling the material apart is stronger than the gravitational force holding it together

  20. Structure of the Rings • Rings are separated by gaps or divisions with relatively few particles • The size and composition of particles vary from ring to ring • F ring has many small, dark particles

  21. Diagram of Saturn’s Rings

  22. Moons and the Rings • Several moons have orbits within the rings • Moons may also be a source of ring material • Examples of moons effecting the rings: • The Encke gap has a small moon, Pan, in it

  23. Next Time • Read Chapter 13.1-13.6

  24. Summary • Saturn is the second largest planet and the second closest gas giant to Earth • Saturn is similar to Jupiter with key exceptions mostly due to less mass and smaller gravity • cloud layers are more spread out in depth • less distinct cloud bands • larger core • less liquid metallic hydrogen

  25. Summary: Rings • Made up of many distinct rings and ringlets • Composed mostly of icy particles of various sizes and reflectivity • Ring structure shaped by moons • Rings cannot form a larger body due to tidal forces

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