Saturn - the planet of the Solar System, which recognizes each.And all thanks to its magnificent rings.Even from Earth through a telescope of moderate strength are clearly visible three of its key ring.Planet Saturn - the sixth from the Sun in our universe.Saturn got its name thanks to the ancient Roman god of agriculture.In ancient times also because of its dim light having a matte-white shade, as well as a smooth and slow motion across the sky, the planet was notorious, and born under the sign of Saturn was considered an evil omen.
planet Saturn belongs to the group of giant planets.Saturn is not a solid surface.Except for a small kernel, it is formed mainly of helium and hydrogen is in the gaseous or liquid state.The atmosphere of the planet, gradually condensing, smoothly into the liquid mantle.Despite the fact that almost all Saturn consists of individual gases are present at the magnetic field, which is much stronger than the earth.Looking at the majestic Saturn, you can get a false impression of serenity and peaceful planet.But this is not so.On Saturn, the strongest storms and raging winds, sometimes reaching the speed of 2000 km / h!In addition, here you can see large-scale aurora and powerful lightning discharges in the atmosphere.Light yellow planet Saturn in appearance much easier its bright neighbor Jupiter.Saturn deprived as colorful cloud cover, although the structure of the atmosphere had almost the same.
But the most important advantage of the planet - is its magnificent rings.Famous and anything not related, Saturn's rings all the time never ceased to excite the imagination of scientists and astronomers for its amazing form.Their study and research takes brilliant astronomers, mathematicians, mechanics, and other luminaries of Sciences (J. D. Cassini J. K. Maxwell, PS Laplace, and many others).Near the planet three times visited the US space satellites: in 1979, in 1980 and in 1981. With these interplanetary station, came to Earth thousands of pictures of satellites of Saturn's rings, piercing space.
planet Saturn is separated from us by more than a billion kilometers.But if the "jump" them and look at the rings from a distance of about 100 thousand. Kilometers, you can see that they are split into thousands of thin rings.And they're all different and dissimilar.One serrated edges, while others deviate from the orbit, others swaying, bend and form a wave, spiral, elliptical rings ... All properties and surprises rings is simply impossible to list!If you get close to the rings of Saturn closely, you can see that they are made up of billions of normal water ice particles of different sizes from small grains to boulders loose snow up to 15 m.
Besides magnificent rings planet Saturn has 62 satellites and more.They were named in honor of the ancient heroes of ancient Rome and Greece: Titan, Dione, Mimas, Calypso, Rhea, Phoebe and others.Almost all of them - the ice mass.
In mythology Saturn symbolizes the time Saturday and lead.In his honor, even the holidays of "Saturnalia", which became the prototype of the Nativity of Christ.According to legend, it was Saturn, which represents wisdom and age, the rules of our universe during her Golden Age.
