SATURN

Saturn is the sixth planet in our solar system and is the second largest planet. The only planet larger then Saturn is Jupiter. Saturn is commonly noted for its phenomenal system of rings surrounding this gaseous planet. It is also one of the outer planets. Saturn's period of rotation is approximately ten and a half-hours in Earth hours. Saturn takes about 13 and a half-hours less than Earth to rotate. It takes Saturn about 30 years to make revolution around the sun. That is 29 years more than Earth. If we lived on Saturn we would die around the age of three! Saturn's atmosphere is made of two main gases; hydrogen (88%) and helium (11%). The different color gases produce belts of streak-like swirls surrounding the planet. The swirls are series of storms on the planet’s surface. It also contains traces of methane, ammonia, ammonia crystals, and other gases like ethane, acetylene, and phosphine. Obviously, this planet is made of gases. Saturn's atmosphere has nothing in common ! with Earth's atmosphere. Earth's atmosphere contains nitrogen and oxygen. Saturn appears to be a yellowish color from Earth. Saturn can be seen from Earth because it is one of the brightest in the night sky. Saturn's huge size causes atmospheric pressure to be directed towards the core of the planet. The pressure is so intense that the hydrogen gas condenses into a liquid. Eventually, the hydrogen that was condensed into a liquid turns into metallic hydrogen, which conducts electricity. This hydrogen electricity is what causes Saturn's magnetic field. Earth has no magnetic field so this procedure does not occur on Earth. Saturn is one of the outer planets, which is farther away from the sun and five other planets (Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter). Saturn is estimated to be 1427 million kilometers away from the sun.