The best pictures of Saturn.
The last 13 years of the automatic interplanetary station Cassini shot of Saturn, and before that, flew here for 7 years, overcoming the distance of 2.2 billion miles. In this distant and alien world was something to see — the average surface temperature is minus 180°C, and the speed of the winds reaches places 1 800 km/h. Saturn has more than 150 satellites and most spectacular system of rings.
1. Icy moon Enceladus against the background of Saturn’s rings. Enceladus reflects more sunlight than any other body in the Solar system. In 2011, NASA scientists on “Enceladus Focus Group Conference” stated that Enceladus “is most suitable for such a life, what we know, a place in the Solar system outside of Earth.” (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
2. A natural satellite of Saturn, Hyperion. Opened in 1848 and named in honor of the Titan Hyperion. The density of Hyperion is so small that it is probably 60% of the usual water ice with a small admixture of stones and metals, and the major portion of its internal volume (up to 40 percent or more) are void. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
3. The average diameter of Enceladus — 504,2 km. It is sixth in size and mass of Saturn. The orbit of the satellite is at the distance of 237 378 km from Saturn. And here is the cool —surface temperature in the afternoon — about -200°C. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
4. Enceladus is composed mostly of water ice and has a nearly white surface with a record in the Solar system, cleanliness and reflectivity. On the surface, few craters, and many peculiar grooves. In addition, there is a long crack. These facts indicate that the surface of Enceladus is young (a few hundred million years) and/or recently updated. Apparently, this is due to its cryovolcanic activity. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
5. Diona is a natural satellite of Saturn. Perhaps, once Dion was deployed by the impact of a large celestial body. Judging by the abundance of large craters on dione, such a reversal could occur repeatedly. However, its present orientation has existed for billions of years, as evidenced by the high criterional and light color of the leading hemisphere. (Photo JPL-Caltech | NASA):
6. The particle size of the material in Saturn’s rings — from micrometers to centimeters and (at least) tens of meters. The composition of the main rings: water ice (about 99 %) with impurities of silicate dust. The thickness of the rings is extremely small compared to their width (between 7 and 80 thousand kilometers above the equator of Saturn) and ranges from one kilometer to ten meters. The total mass of clastic material in the ring system is estimated at 3×1019 kilograms. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
7. Yapet is the third largest moon of Saturn and the twenty-fourth the distance of 62 known to his companions. Also known as Saturn VIII. In December 2004 the spacecraft Cassini has transmitted new images of yapet, which is a unique mountain ridge, a ring encircling the equator of the satellite. It reaches a height of 13 km, width 20 km, length is about 1300 km. over this range of yapet reminiscent of walnut or celluloid ball, glued from two identical halves. (Photo JPL-Caltech | Space Science Institute | NASA):
8. Having a size of about 400 km, Mimas is the twentieth-largest moon in the Solar system and the smallest known cosmic body, which has a rounded shape due to its own gravity. Consists mainly of water ice with small patches of stones. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
9. The Atmosphere Of Titan. Is the only one, besides Earth, body in the Solar system, which proved the existence of stable liquid on the surface. The diameter of Titan — 5152 km, it is 50% more than that of the moon, while Titan is 80 % more than a satellite of the Earth by mass. Titan is also larger than the planet mercury, though inferior to it in weight. The force of gravity on it is about one-seventh of the earth. The mass of Titan is 95 % of the mass of all the satellites of Saturn. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
10. June 30, 2004 research Cassini successfully flew through the rings of Saturn between the two outer rings F and G. For protection from micrometeorites used a radio antenna with a diameter of 4 meters. When flying the unit received more than 100 thousand strikes by micrometeorites, but was not seriously hurt.
In 2009 was opened the ring of the Phoebus with a diameter of more than 13 million kilometers. (Photo JPL-Caltech | Space Science Institute | NASA):
11. Diona. In may 2013, based on data from the Cassini experts of laboratory of jet movement NASA have suggested that under the surface of dione can be or once was the ocean. (Photo JPL-Caltech | Space Science Institute | NASA):
12. The Satellite Prometheus. Prometheus is called the “shepherd” of the ring F. the Latest pictures taken by the spacecraft Cassini-Huygens on 29 October 2004, show that the gravity field of Prometheus creates the kinks and loops in the ring F, as a companion to “steal” material from him. (Photo JPL-Caltech | Space Science Institute | NASA):
13. Twisted the upper layers of Saturn. Saturn mostly consists of hydrogen, with admixtures of helium and traces of water, methane, ammonia, and heavy elements. The inner area represents a relatively small core of iron, Nickel and ice, covered with a thin layer of metallic hydrogen and gaseous outer layer. (Photo JPL-Caltech | Space Science Institute | NASA):
14. Part of the relief Mimas get names, mostly taken from the British legends of king Arthur and the knights of the Round table. (Photo NASA | JPL-Caltech | Space Science Institute | Reuters):
15. Mountains yapet. In the novel of Arthur C. Clarke’s “2001: a Space Odyssey” yapet was located another civilization built the Stargate, through which the main character was in a completely different Universe. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
16. Mimas against the background of Saturn. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
17. Companion Elena. Also used the name Saturn XII. (Photo NASA | JPL-Caltech | Space Science Institute | Reuters):
18. The pressure at the surface of Titan is about 1.5 times the earth’s atmospheric pressure. The temperature at the surface minus 170-180 °C. On the surface are methane-tanouye lakes and rivers. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
19. A giant hexagon — which to date, rigorous scientific explanation of the atmospheric phenomenon on the planet Saturn. Is a geometrically regular hexagon with a diameter of 25 thousand kilometers, located at the North pole of Saturn. Apparently, the hexagon is a whirlwind. Straight walls of the vortex go deep into the atmosphere to a distance of 100 kilometers. (Photo JPL-Caltech | Space Science Institute | NASA):
20. Rhea — second largest moon of Saturn. Ray’s composition and geological history similar to Dion. Names of parts of the surface of Rhea is taken from myths about the creation of the world, because the satellite is named in honor of the mother of the Olympian gods. First use of the myths of the peoples of Asia. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
21. Mimas against the background of Saturn. On the illuminated side of Mimas is clearly visible craters of different sizes. (Photo JPL | Space Science Institute | NASA):
22. Saturn refers to the type of gas planets: it consists mostly of gases and has no solid surface. Equatorial radius of the planet is 60 300 km, polar radius is 54, 400 km. the mass of the planet at 95.2 times the mass of Earth, however, the average density of Saturn is only 0,687 g/cm3, making it the only planet in the Solar system whose average density is less than density of water. (Photo JPL-Caltech | SSI | Cornell | NASA):
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