Saturn and Extrasolar Planets - Revision history

WikiSysop at 04:30, 7 February 2012

2012-02-07T04:30:03Z

WikiSysop at 04:23, 7 February 2012

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	<center>		<center>
	''''There are more things in ~~heave~~ and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.''''		''''There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.''''
	</center>		</center>

WikiSysop at 04:22, 7 February 2012

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	~~'''''Under Development'''''~~

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	'''William Shakespeare, Hamlet Act 1. Scene v.'''		'''[http://shakespeare.mit.edu/hamlet/full.html William Shakespeare, Hamlet Act 1. Scene v.]'''
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WikiSysop: /* Two More Strange Moons of Saturn */

2012-02-07T04:18:00Z

Two More Strange Moons of Saturn

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	[[File: saturn_trail_enc24_pia08321.jpg\|600px]]		[[File:saturn_trail_enc24_pia08321.jpg\|600px]]

	Enceladus in "E" ring of Saturn which is created mostly by its water geysers		Enceladus in "E" ring of Saturn which is created mostly by its water geysers
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	Credit: NASA/JPL		Credit: NASA/JPL






	== Jobs in Space ==		== Jobs in Space ==

WikiSysop: /* Two More Strange Moons of Saturn */

2012-02-07T04:17:00Z

Two More Strange Moons of Saturn

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	[File:saturn_enc02_pia07800.jpg\|600px]		[[File:saturn_enc02_pia07800.jpg\|600px]]

	Fissures in Enceladus' south pole (to left) send out geysers		Fissures in Enceladus' south pole (to left) send out geysers
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	[File:saturn_geysers_pia08386.jpg\|600px]		[[File:saturn_geysers_pia08386.jpg\|600px]]

	Cassini image of Enceladus' geyser plumes (false color)		Cassini image of Enceladus' geyser plumes (false color)
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	[File: saturn_trail_enc24_pia08321.jpg\|600px]		[[File: saturn_trail_enc24_pia08321.jpg\|600px]]

	Enceladus in "E" ring of Saturn which is created mostly by its water geysers		Enceladus in "E" ring of Saturn which is created mostly by its water geysers
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	[File:saturn_enc_newrings_cassini_big.jpg		[[File:saturn_enc_newrings_cassini_big.jpg\|600px]]
	\|600px]
	Euceladus' thin nebulous ring around Saturn is just outside the bright rings		Euceladus' thin nebulous ring around Saturn is just outside the bright rings

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	~~iapetus~~		[[File:saturn_iapetus2_cassini_big.jpg\|600px]]

	Iapetus		Iapetus

	~~iapetus snow~~
			[[File:saturn_iapetus_pia08372.jpg\|600px]]

	Part of the 10 km (6 mile) high ridge on the dark side of the Iapedus		Part of the 10 km (6 mile) high ridge on the dark side of the Iapedus

	~~snow craters~~


			[[File:saturn_iapetus_snow_and_craters.jpg\|\|600px]]

	Snowy water ice on Iapetus amidst its craters		Snowy water ice on Iapetus amidst its craters
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	Jobs in Space		== Jobs in Space ==

WikiSysop at 04:12, 7 February 2012

2012-02-07T04:12:50Z

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	[[File:~~rings~~.gif~~\|600px~~]]		[[File:Rings.gif]]

	Saturn's rings change appearance as it orbits the Sun		Saturn's rings change appearance as it orbits the Sun

WikiSysop: /* Saturn's Moons and Rings */

2012-02-07T04:11:19Z

Saturn's Moons and Rings

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	[File:saturn_01feb10.jpg\|600px]		[[File:saturn_01feb10.jpg\|600px]]

	Saturn and some of its moons, as it appeared in February 2010.		Saturn and some of its moons, as it appeared in February 2010.

WikiSysop at 04:10, 7 February 2012

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	[File:rings.gif\|600px]		[[File:rings.gif\|600px]]

	Saturn's rings change appearance as it orbits the Sun		Saturn's rings change appearance as it orbits the Sun
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	[File:saturn_titan.jpg\|600px]		[[File:saturn_titan.jpg\|600px]]

	Titan taken by the Cassini spacecraft in a flyby on October 26, 2004. The image uses infrared and ultraviolet to penetrate the thick , opaque atmosphere, and is shown in false color.		Titan taken by the Cassini spacecraft in a flyby on October 26, 2004. The image uses infrared and ultraviolet to penetrate the thick , opaque atmosphere, and is shown in false color.
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	[File: saturn_titan_titan6.jpg\|600px]		[[File: saturn_titan_titan6.jpg\|600px]]

	Mountains seen in infrared light by the Huygens probe, 2 km (1.2 mi) altitude, while landing on Titan		Mountains seen in infrared light by the Huygens probe, 2 km (1.2 mi) altitude, while landing on Titan
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	[File:titan_pia09182_enh.jpg\|600px]		[[File:titan_pia09182_enh.jpg\|600px]]

	Titan's lakes of methane and ethane seen by Cassini's radar in February 2007		Titan's lakes of methane and ethane seen by Cassini's radar in February 2007
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	[File:titan_pia09182_dunes.jpg\|600px]		[[File:titan_pia09182_dunes.jpg\|600px]]

	Wavy dunes wrap around bright mounds on Titan in this Cassini radar image		Wavy dunes wrap around bright mounds on Titan in this Cassini radar image
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	[File:titan_moon.jpg\|600px]		[[File:titan_moon.jpg\|600px]]

	Titan's surface seen from the Huygen's lander is on the same scale as this image of Earth's Moon		Titan's surface seen from the Huygen's lander is on the same scale as this image of Earth's Moon
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	[File:titan_balloon.jpg\|600px]		[[File:titan_balloon.jpg\|600px]]

	ESA, The European Space Agency, is proposing a 10-year study of Titan which will include the use of balloons		ESA, The European Space Agency, is proposing a 10-year study of Titan which will include the use of balloons

WikiSysop: /* Saturn's Moons and r\Rings */

2012-02-07T04:09:17Z

Saturn's Moons and r\Rings

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	== Saturn's Moons and r\Rings ==		== Saturn's Moons and Rings ==

WikiSysop: /* Saturn's Moons and r\Rings */

2012-02-07T04:08:52Z

Saturn's Moons and r\Rings

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:08, 7 February 2012
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	[[File:rings.gif\|600px]]		[File:rings.gif\|600px]

	Saturn's rings change appearance as it orbits the Sun		Saturn's rings change appearance as it orbits the Sun
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	Saturn and some of its moons, as it appeared in February 2010.		Saturn and some of its moons, as it appeared in February 2010.
	The horizontal line is a little larger than the distance from Earth to the Moon.		The horizontal line is a little larger than the distance from Earth to the Moon.



	== Titan ==		== Titan ==

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	== Extrasolar Planets: Planets Around Other Stars ==		== Extrasolar Planets: Planets Around Other Stars ==

	Exoplanets are planets around other stars. So far, mostly hydrogen/helium gas giants, similar to Jupiter and Saturn, have been found, but there are methods to detect terrestrial planets within habitable zones near some stars. The star 55 Cancri has five confirmed exoplanets, both gas giants and terrestrial. The NASA Kepler Mission is searching thousands of nearby stars for planets. At least a few have been found in an area warm enough to support water-based life.		[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extrasolar_planet Exoplanets] are [http://exoplanets.org/ planets around other stars]. So far, mostly hydrogen/helium gas giants, similar to Jupiter and Saturn, have been found, but there are methods to [http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/COROT/SEM7G6XPXPF_0.html detect terrestrial planets] within habitable zones near some stars. The star 55 Cancri has five confirmed exoplanets, both gas giants and terrestrial. The [http://kepler.arc.nasa.gov/ NASA Kepler Mission] is searching thousands of nearby stars for planets. At least a few have been found in an area warm enough to support water-based life.

	[[File:extrasolar_planet_nasa2.jpg\|600px]]		[[File:extrasolar_planet_nasa2.jpg\|600px]]
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	An exoplanet might look like Saturn, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium gases, with its own moons, rings, and lovely aurora.		An exoplanet might look like Saturn, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium gases, with its own moons, rings, and lovely aurora.

	Powerful lightning, approximately 1000 times that on Earth, streaks through Saturn's thick atmosphere, and hurricanes the size of Earth, with winds as high as 1600 km/h (1,000 mph). Its thick atmosphere gives the planet an average specific density of 0.7 g/cm³. Since water is 1.0, Saturn would float.		Powerful lightning, approximately 1000 times that on Earth, streaks through Saturn's thick atmosphere, and hurricanes the size of Earth, with winds as high as 1600 km/h (1,000 mph). Its thick atmosphere gives the planet an average [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Relative_density specific density] of 0.7 g/cm³. Since water is 1.0, Saturn would float.

	Saturn's rocky core is much like the Earth but denser. Above this, there is a liquid metallic hydrogen layer and liquid helium.		Saturn's rocky core is much like the Earth but denser. Above this, there is a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metallic_hydrogen liquid metallic hydrogen] layer and liquid helium.

	Saturn radiates 2.5 times more energy into space than it receives from the Sun. This comes from gradual gravitational compression, converting helium gas to liquid helium droplets. These fall towards the core, converting potential energy (energy stored in gravity) to kinetic energy (energy in the motion of the gas molecules) . The "temperature" of a gas measures how much energy its molecules have, as they zip around and collide with one another. In these collisions, the movement of the charges inside the atoms and molecules makes the infrared light they emit.		Saturn radiates 2.5 times more energy into space than it receives from the Sun. This comes from gradual gravitational compression, converting helium gas to liquid helium droplets. These fall towards the core, converting potential energy (energy stored in gravity) to kinetic energy (energy in the motion of the gas molecules) . The "temperature" of a gas measures how much energy its molecules have, as they zip around and collide with one another. In these collisions, the movement of the charges inside the atoms and molecules makes the infrared light they emit.
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	The Cassini mission has discovered numerous river channels, lakes, islands and mountains on Titan, with radar imaging in close approaches, and with the Huygens probe that landed on the surface on January 14, 2005.		The [http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html Cassini] mission has discovered numerous [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YJ0hwTzOMPE&feature=related river channels], lakes, islands and mountains on Titan, with radar imaging in close approaches, and with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huygens_probe Huygens probe] that [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PJEipHtz3yI&feature=related landed on the surface on January 14, 2005].


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	Hydrocarbon "seas", of methane and ethane look dark in radar.The largest is almost the size of the Caspian Sea or Lake Superior on Earth.		Hydrocarbon "seas", of methane and ethane look dark in radar.The largest is almost the size of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caspian_Sea Caspian Sea] or Lake Superior on Earth.


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	These icy jets form towering plumes many kilometers high. Due to the low escape velocity of Enceladus, some leave Enceladus altogether. Geysers on Earth are formed by the steam pressure from water heated where there is magma under the surface.		These icy jets form towering plumes many kilometers high. Due to the low escape velocity of Enceladus, some leave Enceladus altogether. [http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5585669172180053070 Geysers on Earth] are formed by the steam pressure from water heated where there is magma under the surface.


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	Its 79 day orbit matches its 79 Earth-day long day. So, like Earth's Moon, the same side always faces the planet. Its leading side is dark and its trailing side is white, This suggests the leading side swept up particles of dust. Since dark colors absorb heat, while light colors reflect heat and remain cool, the dark layer on the snowy surface absorbed enough warmth to vaporize the water ice beneath. This water vapor then migrated and froze on the trailing cold side of the moon creating its snowy white surface.		Its 79 day orbit matches its 79 Earth-day long day. So, like Earth's Moon, the same side always faces the planet. Its leading side is dark and its trailing side is white, This suggests the leading side swept up particles of dust. Since dark colors absorb heat, while light colors reflect heat and remain cool, the dark layer on the snowy surface absorbed enough warmth to vaporize the water ice beneath. This water vapor then migrated and froze on the trailing cold side of the moon creating its snowy white surface.

	The dark side contains organic compounds similar to the substances found in primitive meteorites and in comets; Earth-based observations have shown these to be carbonaceous, that is carbon based, such as frozen ~~hydrogen~~ cyanide polymers.		The dark side contains [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organic_matter organic compounds] similar to the substances found in primitive [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meteorite meteorites] and in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comet comets]; Earth-based observations have shown these to be carbonaceous, that is carbon based, such as frozen [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydrogen_cyanidehydrogen cyanide] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polymer polymers].

	There is also a 10 km (6 mile) high ridge near the equator on the dark side of Iapetus (to the right in this image) which remains unexplained.		There is also a 10 km (6 mile) high ridge near the equator on the dark side of Iapetus (to the right in this image) which remains unexplained.
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	There are many job opportunities in space missions. Planetary scientists, engineers, technicians, and programmers may spend many years designing, building, and managing one. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo.		There are many job opportunities in space missions. Planetary scientists, engineers, technicians, and programmers may spend many years designing, building, and managing one. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington, D.C. The Cassini orbiter and its two onboard cameras were designed, developed and assembled at JPL. The imaging operations center is based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo.

	For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission, visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov .		For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission, visit [http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov].