Saturn is the sixth planet in the solar system. The second largest, and its density is so small that if you fill a huge reservoir with water and place Saturn there, then it will freely float on the surface without completely immersing itself in water. Saturn's main attraction is its rings, which are made up 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.
Which is Saturn?
First you need to figure out what kind of planet this is and what it is "eaten 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 sun is 1,513 billion km.
A planetary day is only 10 hours and 34 minutes, but a planetary year is 29.5 Earth years. 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 and Voyager 2 reached Saturn's orbit a couple of years ago andprovided scientists with invaluable information about this planet. Winds were observed 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 Jupiter, there is a Great 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.
Saturn to Earth size ratio
How many times larger is Saturn than Earth? According to some reports, only in diameter Saturn exceeds our planet by 10 times. In terms of volume, 764 times, i.e. Saturn can accommodate exactly this number of our planets. The width of Saturn's rings exceeds the diameter of our blue planet by 6 times. He's so gigantic.
Distance from Earth to Saturn
First, you need to take into account the fact that all the planets of the solar system do not move in a circle, but in ellipses (ovals). There are moments when there is a change in distance from the Sun. It can get closer, it can move away. 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.
Consequently, the distance from Earth to Saturn will vary considerably. Now you will know how. Using scientific measurements, it has been calculated that the minimum distance from Earth to Saturn in kilometers is 1195 million, inwhile the maximum is 1660 million
How long to fly to Saturn from Earth
As you know, the speed of light (according to Einstein's theory of relativity) is an insurmountable limit in the Universe. It seems to us unattainable. But on a cosmic scale, it is negligible. In 8 minutes, light travels the distance to the Earth, which is 150 million km (1 AU). The distance to Saturn has to be overcome in 1 hour and 20 minutes. It's not that long, you say, but just think that the speed of light is 300,000 m/s!
If you take a rocket as a vehicle, it will take years to overcome the distance. 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 person near Saturn?
Why do we even need this hydrogen planet, where life would never have originated? Saturn is interested in scientists for its moon called Titan. The largest moon of Saturn and the second largest in the solar system (after Jupiter's Ganymede). It interested scientists no less than Mars. Titan is larger than Mercury and even has rivers on its surface. True, rivers of liquid methane and ethane.
The force of gravity on the satellite is less than on Earth. The main element present in the atmosphere is hydrocarbon. If we manage to get to Titan, it will become very acute for us.problem. But tight suits will not be needed. Only very warm clothes and an oxygen tank. Given the density and gravity of Titan, it's safe to say that humans would be able to fly. The fact is that in such conditions our body can freely float in the air, without strong resistance from gravity. We will need only the usual model wings. And even if they break down, a person can easily "saddle" the solid surface of the satellite without any problems.
For the successful settlement of Titan, it will be necessary to build entire cities under hemispherical domes. Only then will it be possible to recreate a climate similar to the earth's for more comfortable living and growing the necessary food, as well as extracting valuable mineral resources from the bowels of the planet.
The lack of sunlight will also be an acute problem, because the Sun near Saturn seems to be a small yellow star. The replacement for solar panels will be hydrocarbons, which cover the planet in abundance with entire seas. From it the first colonizers will receive energy. Water is found deep below the moon's surface in the form of ice.
