NASA Confirms Revolutionary Dragonfly Mission To Explore Saturn’s Moon, Titan
NASA’s Dragonfly mission, set to explore Saturn’s moon Titan, has progressed to final design and construction stages with a confirmed launch in 2028 and a…
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in our solar system, famed for its striking system of icy rings. These rings are made up of countless small particles, ranging in size from micrometers to meters, that orbit around Saturn’s equator. Composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, Saturn is a gas giant like Jupiter, with a composition and structure similar to that of the Sun. It has a dense core surrounded by metallic hydrogen, an intermediate layer of liquid hydrogen and helium, and an outer gaseous layer. Saturn has a very low average density; in fact, it is the only planet in the solar system that is less dense than water—if there were a bathtub large enough to hold it, Saturn would float. The planet hosts a large number of moons, with Titan being the most notable because it is larger than the planet Mercury and has a thick atmosphere that supports complex weather systems. Saturn’s magnetic field is weaker than Earth’s, but its magnetosphere is extensive, extending several Titan diameters from the planet. Saturn’s internal heat, while not as intense as Jupiter’s, drives complex atmospheric activities and results in polar phenomena similar to Earth’s auroras.
NASA’s Dragonfly mission, set to explore Saturn’s moon Titan, has progressed to final design and construction stages with a confirmed launch in 2028 and a…
New study uses Titan’s atmosphere as a natural laboratory to delve deeper into the chemistry of the methane molecule – a molecule that, on Earth,…
Astrobiologist finds Titan may not have enough amino acids for life to emerge. A study led by Western astrobiologist Catherine Neish shows the subsurface ocean…
Researchers have discovered a global ocean of liquid water beneath the surface of Mimas, one of Saturn’s smallest moons. This discovery, made possible by data…
Saturn’s rings, now visible, will seem to disappear in 2025 due to a regular astronomical phenomenon but will reappear thereafter. The current period is ideal…
A Lancaster University PhD student has measured the optical depth of Saturn’s rings using a new method based on how much sunlight reached the Cassini…
What are some skywatching highlights in November 2023? The Leonid meteors peak, Saturn sits in the celestial sea, and Venus and Jupiter are visible on…
Observations of Saturn by University of Leicester planetary scientists using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) of the famous ringed planet. A team of planetary…
Saturn’s rings may have formed from a collision between two icy moons millions of years ago, according to supercomputer simulations by NASA. This discovery provides…
Saturn will be in opposition on August 26-27, 2023, appearing brighter. With the right equipment, viewers can discern its rings. Additionally, a Super Blue Moon…
Megastorms leave marks on Saturn’s atmosphere for centuries. Researchers have discovered long-lasting megastorms on Saturn, similar to Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, through the study of…
NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope provided unique near-infrared imagery of Saturn on June 25, 2023. The observations highlighted Saturn’s atmospheric characteristics, revealed intricate details of…
With the Cassini spacecraft, built by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, safely in orbit around Saturn, science takes center stage, beginning with the dramatic descent of…
In 1997 an ambitious international mission, led by NASA’S Jet Propulsion Laboratory, launches to Saturn. The goal is to place a spacecraft around the planet…
NASA’s Cassini mission data suggests that Saturn’s rings are young, possibly only a few hundred million years old, and could disappear in a similar timescale….
Scientists have discovered 62 new moons orbiting Saturn, bringing its total to 145 and surpassing Jupiter’s count of 95. Using a technique called “shift and…
Scientists unveil solutions to enigmatic radar characteristics of Jupiter and Saturn’s moons A collaborative investigation led by Dr. Jason Hofgartner, Senior Research Scientist at the…
An international team of astronomers has found 62 new moons around Saturn using an innovative technique. These irregular moons contribute to Saturn’s total moon count…