Saturn is the sixth planet of the solar system.The second largest, and its density is so small that if you fill a huge tank with water and put Saturn there, then it will freely stay on the surface without submerging into the water as a whole. The main attraction of Saturn is its rings consisting of dust, gas and ice. A huge number of rings surround the planet, the diameter of which exceeds the diameter of the Earth several times.
What is he - Saturn?
First you need to figure out what it isa planet like this and what it eats with. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun, named after the ancient Roman god Saturn. The Greeks called him Kronos, the father of Zeus (Jupiter). At the farthest point of the orbit (aphelion) the distance from the star is 1 513 billion km.
Planetary day is only 10 hours and 34minutes, but the planetary year lasts 29.5 terrestrial. The atmosphere of the gas giant consists mainly of hydrogen (it accounts for 92%). The remaining 8% are impurities of helium, methane, ammonia, ethane, etc.
Launched in 1977, Voyager-1 andVoyager 2 reached Saturn’s orbit a couple of years ago and provided scientists with invaluable information about this planet. Winds were seen on the surface, whose speed reached 500 m / s. For example, the strongest wind on Earth reached only 103 m / s (New Hampshire, Mount Washington).
Like the Great Red Spot on Jupiterthere is a big white oval on Saturn. But the second appears only every 30 years, and its last appearance was in 1990. In a couple of years we will be able to watch him again.
The size ratio of Saturn and the Earth
How many times is Saturn more than Earth?According to some reports, only in diameter Saturn exceeds our planet by 10 times. By volume, 764 times, i.e. Saturn can accommodate just such a number of our planets. The width of the rings of Saturn exceeds the diameter of our blue planet 6 times. So he is gigantic.
Earth's distance from Saturn
First you need to take into account the fact that allthe planets of the solar system move not in a circle, but in ellipses (ovals). There are moments when there is a change of distance from the sun. It can become closer, can be removed. On Earth, this is clearly visible. This is called the change of seasons. But here the rotation and inclination of our planet relative to the orbit plays a role.
Therefore, the distance from Earth to Saturnwill vary greatly. Now you know how. Using scientific measurements, it was estimated that the minimum distance from Earth to Saturn in kilometers is 1195 million, while the maximum is 1,660 million.
How to fly to Saturn from the Earth
As is known, the speed of light (according to the theoryEinstein's relativity) is an insurmountable limit in the universe. It seems to us unattainable. But on a cosmic scale, it is negligible. In 8 minutes the light travels the distance to the Earth, which is 150 million km (1 a. E.). The distance to Saturn has to be overcome in 1 hour and 20 minutes. This is not so long, you say, but just think that the speed of light is 300 000 m / s!
If you take a rocket for a vehicle,overcoming the distance will take years. The spacecraft aimed at studying the giant planets took from 2.5 to 3 years. At the moment they are outside the solar system. Many scientists believe that the distance from Earth to Saturn can be overcome in 6 years and 9 months.
What awaits a man at Saturn?
Why do we even need this hydrogen planet,where life would never have originated? Saturn is interested in scientists with its moon called Titan. The largest satellite of Saturn and the second largest in the solar system (after Ganymede in Jupiter). He was interested in scientists no less than Mars. Titan is larger than Mercury, and there are even rivers on its surface. True, the river of liquid methane and ethane.
The force of attraction on the satellite is less than on Earth.The main element present in the atmosphere is a hydrocarbon. If we manage to get to Titan, it will be a very acute problem for us. But they will not need tight suits. Only very warm clothes and an oxygen bottle. Given the density and gravity of Titan, we can say with great certainty that a person can fly. The fact is that in such conditions our body can freely float in the air, not having strong resistance from the side of gravity. We only need ordinary model wings. And even in the event of a breakdown, a person without problems will be able to gently “ride” the hard surface of the satellite.
For the safe settlement of Titan will requireerect entire cities under hemispherical domes. Only then will it be possible to recreate a climate like the earth for a more comfortable living and growing the necessary foodstuffs, as well as extracting valuable mineral resources from the bowels of the planet.
An acute problem will be the lack of solarlight, because the Sun near Saturn seems to be a small yellow star. Replacing solar panels will be hydrocarbon, covering the planet in abundance with whole seas. From it, the first colonizers will receive energy. Water is located deep beneath the surface of the satellite in the form of ice.
