Saturn is not the only planet with rings. Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune also have rings, although they are much fainter and less spectacular than Saturn’s. Saturn is the least dense planet in the solar system, and if there were a body of water large enough to hold Saturn, the planet would float. In contrast, Earth and Mercury would sink the fastest. Scientists believe that Saturn is approximately -350° F. The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth is -129° F . Winds in Saturn’s atmosphere travel up to 1,100 miles per hour, much faster than those on Jupiter. The strongest tornadoes on Earth have reached speeds of only about 300 miles per hour. Saturn rotates so fast (6,200 miles per hour) that the planet bulges at its equator and its poles are flat. It is the flattest planet in the solar system. In fact, Saturn rotates faster than any other planet except for Jupiter. Because Saturn spins on a tilt, it has seasons. Summer on Saturn lasts about eight Earth years. The atmospheric pressure on Saturn is over 100 times greater than the Earth’s atmospheric pressure. The pressure is so powerful that it squeezes gas into liquid. It would crush any human-made spacecraft. Saturn’s rings are made from billions of chunks of rock and ice, ranging in size from a grain of sand to pieces as large as a house. They have a mysterious reddish “contaminant” that might be rust or the same organic material found in red vegetables on Earth. Saturn is called a “naked eye” planet because it can be seen without a telescope or binoculars. Saturn is often the third brightest planet in the night sky and has a yellowish color that does not twinkle. Unlike stars, planets like Saturn do not twinkle because they are much closer to Earth than stars.
On a clear winter night take your binoculars outside and see if you can spot Saturn! Then go back in the house for a cup of hot chocolate...it is so worth it!!
25 Comments
Haley
11/30/2016 03:33:05 pm
WOW! Those pictures are awesome!Also, I never knew Saturn has the lowest density.
Reply
Tabitha
11/30/2016 03:44:00 pm
Do the rings spin with the planet? I do not think so but I want to be certain.
Reply
Mrs. Taylor
12/1/2016 07:42:47 am
Yes they do, not as fast as Saturn spins, but there is a gravitational pull that keeps the rings moving.
Reply
Tabitha
12/1/2016 07:47:59 am
Sweet thanks
Katelyn Ashton
11/30/2016 04:28:27 pm
What's the name of the planet that's entirely diomand
Reply
Ema Martinez
11/30/2016 04:52:38 pm
AWSOME! i never knew that Saturn was so pretty. I also didn't know you could see it with your own eyes. The pics really help. I will try going outside to find Saturn and go back inside for hot coco! :D :0 :)
Reply
sydney
11/30/2016 05:09:30 pm
why is s Saturn dense?
Reply
Mrs. Taylor
12/1/2016 07:46:45 am
It's kind of complicated but from what I understand Saturn is less dense because of its gas composition and the gravity is different than on Jupiter or the other planets...Great Question!!
Reply
Caden
11/30/2016 05:11:48 pm
Wow, i didn't know Jupiter had a ring.
Reply
steve
11/30/2016 05:21:03 pm
wow that is cool
Reply
jenna
11/30/2016 05:42:38 pm
"saturn is our least dense planet"
Reply
Emmalee
11/30/2016 06:02:36 pm
Wow. Saturn is pretty cool.
Reply
11/30/2016 06:22:08 pm
WOW !!!Saturn has the lowest density out of all the planets that's really cool!!!!!!!!:0:0:):):):):)
Reply
parker
11/30/2016 06:28:01 pm
i love Saturn's rings are so cool
Reply
Mrs. Taylor
12/1/2016 07:44:21 am
Thank you Parker for the lovely comment!!
Reply
jaxon bunker
11/30/2016 06:56:52 pm
its cool that Saturn's ring spins. and its also cool that it has the lowest density.
Reply
Paige
11/30/2016 06:57:50 pm
Wow now I can go outside and look at beautiful Saturn all night long with some hot coco!😊
Reply
Mrs. Taylor
12/1/2016 07:43:47 am
I'll go!
Reply
Angela
12/1/2016 12:39:48 pm
that's so cool! I love Uranus's Rings they are so cool.
Ryan Walker
11/30/2016 07:40:02 pm
Well... I know I got that one question about where planets spin faster wrong on the lab. Good to know, good to know.
Reply
Brady Tibbett
12/1/2016 05:47:17 am
I didn't know Saturn was so cold! - 350 degrees!?
Reply
kailee
12/1/2016 07:23:44 am
the oppositions chart is very cool
Reply
Zaya
12/1/2016 07:49:13 am
Wow I never new three planets have rings
Reply
Allysa Bullock
8/28/2017 04:37:10 pm
Sweet advice Mrs.Taylor love it!
Reply
Yhey make that phony bathtub claim, so that when you try to research Saturn for having water and/or sodium chloride (salt) you get bombed with those ridiculous Saturn can float hits, like every one, they don't want you to know that Saturn has loads and loads of salt water & chlorine because then you may figure out where earth got all her salt water from, and they can't have that. See Purple dawn of creation. Saturn was our first sun, the best sun.
Reply
Leave a Reply. |
Mrs. TaylorI love science! Everything about the world is interesting and never boring. I love to study plants, animals, insects, and people. My favorite subjects are my students who are the most unique organisms on the planet! Categories |