Saturn: Ringed WonderWhat I’m Going to Talk AboutSaturn StatisticsMore Saturn StatisticsWhere Are We?Jovians and TerrestrialsSlide 7Atmospheric ComparisonNot a Perfect SphereSlide 10Slide 11Saturn’s InteriorSaturn’s Magnetic FieldSynchrotron RadiationSaturn’s AuroraRings Rings Rings – NOT REAL COLORRings around the JoviansRing IrregularitiesSaturn: Ringed WonderPresented byProfessor Harold GellerDepartment of Physics and AstronomyGeorge Mason UniversityWhat I’m Going to Talk About•Saturn as a jovian planet–mass–diameter–distance from sun–chemical constituents–formation–atmosphere–inner layers–rings–moonsSaturn Statistics•Distance from sun–1427 million km (9.54 AU)•Orbital eccentricity and inclination–0.054 eccentricity–2.49 degrees inclination•Orbital speed and period–9.65 km/s–29.42 years - sidereal period•Mass–5.68 x 1026 kg (95.6 x Earth)•Equatorial Diameter–60,268 km (9.45 x Earth)More Saturn Statistics•Mean density–0.687 g/cm3 (0.125 x Earth)•Surface gravity–10.4 m/s2 (1.07 x Earth)•Escape velocity–35.5 km/s•Axial tilt–26.7 degrees•Temperature at cloud top–97 K•Number of Moons–Define a moonWhere Are We?Jovians and TerrestrialsA Family Portrait scaled to size, NOT distance[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Atmospheric Comparison[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Not a Perfect Sphere[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon][Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Atmospheric Appearance•Fluid Mechanics•viscous flow•turbulent flow•eddies•cyclones[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Saturn’s Interior[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Saturn’s Magnetic Field[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Saturn’s Magnetic Field•8,000 times Earth’s•1/2 of Jupiter’s•similar rotation•therefore metallic hydrogen shell is smallerSaturn’s Magnetosphere•smaller than Jupiter’s•large ring system “damps out” charged particlesSynchrotron Radiation[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Saturn’s Aurora[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Rings Rings Rings – NOT REAL COLOR[Source: James Schombert, University of Oregon]Rings around the JoviansRing
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