Saturn: The beauty of the rings.

Saturn Diametr 120 000 km Mass 5,7*10^26 kg Density 690 kg/m^3 The period of rotation 10 h 40 min 30 sec The average distance from the Sun 9,54 Ю.u. The period of revolution 29,46 years Excentricity of the orbit 0,056 The orbit’s slope 2,5°

The sixth from the Sun planet, the second after Jupiter if comparing their dimensions. Belongs to the giant planets. It has no definite solid surface. There are CH4, H2, NH3, in its composition. The planet has also the radiation fields. The free fall acceleration at the Saturn surface near equator is 9,06 m/s^2

The temperature in the middle Layers of atmosphere (mostly hydrogen with some helium, ammonia and methane) is about 100K.

Saturn has17 satellites (their radiuses in kilometres and middle distances from Saturn in thousand kilometres in brackets): Atlas (20; 137,7), Pandora (70; 130,4), Prometey (55; 141,7), Epimetiy (70; 151,4), Janus (110;151,5), Mimas(136; 185,5), Entselad (250; 238), Tephia (530; 294,7), Telesto (17; 294,7), Calipso (17; ?), Diana (560; 377,4), 198S6 (18; 377,4), Rea (754; 527,1), Titan (2575; 1221,9), Hipenion (205; 1481), Japet (730; 3560,8), Feha (110; 12954).

All the satellites except the giant Titan which is greater than Mercury and has it atmosphere, are made of ice. The unique brightness of Entselad is beautiful. It reflects the light like clean snow.

From all the big Saturn satellites only Hiperion has an irregular form, perhaps because of the former collision w ith a massive body. It might be a giant icy meteorite. The surface of hiperion is greatly contaminated. The surfaces of many satellites are seriusly craterized. So in Diona's surface there is the greatest 10 km long crater and in Mimas's surface there is a crater the wall of which is so great that is perfectly seen in the snapshots. Besides the craters in the surfaces of some satellites there are fractures, furrows and hallows. The greatest tectonics and volcanic activity is found in Entzelad.