Saturn
The Voyager probes next surveyed Saturn in 1980 and 1981. Saturn is the sixth plantet from the Sun. It is the second largest planet in the solar system, but it has the lowest density. Its density is so low that the planet would float in water.
Saturn's Atmosphere
Similar to Jupiter, Saturn is a large, gaseous planet. It has a thick outer atmosphere composed mostly of hydrogen and helium. Saturn's atmosphere also contains ammonia, methane, and water vapor. As you go deeper into Saturn's atmosphere, the gases gradually change to liquid hydrogen and helium. Below its atmosphere and liquid layer, Saturn might have a small, rocky core.
Rings and Moons
The Voyager probes gathered new information about Saturn's ring system and its moons. The probes showed that Saturn has several broad rings. Each large ring is composed of thousands of thin ringlets. They are composed of countless ice and rock particles. These particles range in size from a speck of dust to tens of meters across. This makes Saturn's ring system the most complex of al the outer gaseous planets.
At least 30 moons orbit Saturn. The latest moons to be discovered orbiting Saturn were found using telescopes in Chile and Hawaii. Some scientists suggest that Saturn's gravity captured seveeral of these moons as they passed nearby. The largest of Saturn's moons, Titan, is larger than the planet Mercury. It has an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon, and methane. Thick clouds prevent scientists from seeing the surface of Titan.
Saturn's Atmosphere
Similar to Jupiter, Saturn is a large, gaseous planet. It has a thick outer atmosphere composed mostly of hydrogen and helium. Saturn's atmosphere also contains ammonia, methane, and water vapor. As you go deeper into Saturn's atmosphere, the gases gradually change to liquid hydrogen and helium. Below its atmosphere and liquid layer, Saturn might have a small, rocky core.
Rings and Moons
The Voyager probes gathered new information about Saturn's ring system and its moons. The probes showed that Saturn has several broad rings. Each large ring is composed of thousands of thin ringlets. They are composed of countless ice and rock particles. These particles range in size from a speck of dust to tens of meters across. This makes Saturn's ring system the most complex of al the outer gaseous planets.
At least 30 moons orbit Saturn. The latest moons to be discovered orbiting Saturn were found using telescopes in Chile and Hawaii. Some scientists suggest that Saturn's gravity captured seveeral of these moons as they passed nearby. The largest of Saturn's moons, Titan, is larger than the planet Mercury. It has an atmosphere of nitrogen, argon, and methane. Thick clouds prevent scientists from seeing the surface of Titan.