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Water Fact File for Saturn |
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The Bottom Line: |
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With moons and rings there's water a plenty! |
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Findings from Dr Kotwicki's 1991 Paper: |
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Saturn, the most beautiful celestial body known, owes its splendour to a spectacular celestial display of frozen water. Its eminent rings are poor reflectors of sunlight at certain near infrared wavelengths, which indicate water ice. The particles of the rings vary in size from grains to blocks tens metres in diameter, while the rings' thickness is only 100-150 m. The atmosphere of the planet is 94% hydrogen and 6% helium: under layers of haze, ammonia, and ammonia polysulphide, blue water clouds can also be seen. The planet has the lowest density in the Solar System, and it has been quipped that Saturn would float on water if a suitable ocean could be found (which is a highly theoretical exercise). The Cassini probe, expected to be launched in 1993, will orbit Saturn and drop a probe into the atmosphere of its moon Titan. |
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Latest Findings about Water on Saturn: |
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Above: Saturn, the second largest planet in the Solar System.
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Please contact our Webmaster with questions or comments. © 1991-2005 Dr Vincent Kotwicki.
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