Astronomy & Astrophysics 101: Saturn
What Is Saturn? Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun. It is a gas giant, and the second largest and second most massive planet…
Saturn News
Why Are Some Planets Surrounded by Rings?
Planets are surrounded by rings because they are made up of particles that orbit the planet. These particles can be made up of a variety…
Key Building Block for Life Likely Discovered on One of Saturn’s Moons
The subsurface ocean of Saturn’s moon is most likely rich in phosphorus, a key component for life. The hunt for extraterrestrial life has just become…
Chrysalis: Saturn’s Ancient, Missing Moon
Saturn’s Rings and Tilt Could Be the Product of an Ancient, Missing Moon According to a new study, a “grazing encounter” may have smashed the…
Models of Landscape Formation on Saturn’s Moon Titan Reveal an Earth-Like Alien World
A new hypothesis reveals that a global sedimentary cycle driven by seasons could explain the formation of landscapes on Saturn’s moon Titan. The research shows…
Space Scientists Discover a Never-Before-Seen Mechanism Fueling Huge Planetary Aurorae on Saturn
Saturn’s high-altitude winds generate an extraordinary aurorae. University of Leicester space scientists have discovered a previously unseen mechanism that powers the massive planetary aurorae at…
“Stealth” Ocean Worlds: Evidence Uncovered for an Internal Ocean in Small Saturn Moon
Discovery could point to a new class of “stealth” ocean worlds. A Southwest Research Institute scientist set out to prove that the tiny, innermost moon…
NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Images Saturn From 56 Miles Above the Moon
From a viewpoint about 90 kilometers (56 miles) above Lacus Veris, “Lake of Spring,” the camera aboard NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft imaged Saturn…
Icequakes Likely Rumble Along Geyser-Spitting Fractures on Saturn’s Icy Moon Enceladus
Seismic activity could give scientists a read on the thickness of the ice encasing the moon and the oceans believed to lie beneath. Tidal stresses…
Titan-in-a-Glass Experiments Hint at Mineral Makeup of Saturn’s Largest Moon
Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, is a natural laboratory to study the origins of life. Like Earth, Titan has a dense atmosphere and seasonal weather cycles,…
Ripples in Saturn’s Rings Reveals “Fuzzy” Nature of Gas Giant’s Core
Saturn Makes Waves in its Own Rings In the same way that earthquakes cause our planet to rumble, oscillations in the interior of Saturn make…
NASA’s Dragonfly Mission to Saturn’s Moon Titan Announces Big Science Goals
Among our solar system’s many moons, Saturn’s Titan stands out – it’s the only moon with a substantial atmosphere and liquid on the surface. It…
Possible Signs of Alien Life? Methane in the Plumes of Saturn’s Moon Enceladus
A study published in Nature Astronomy concludes that known geochemical processes can’t explain the levels of methane measured by the Cassini spacecraft on Saturn’s icy…
“Helium Rain Is Real!” – Experiments Validate the Possibility of Helium Rain Inside Jupiter and Saturn
Nearly 40 years ago, scientists first predicted the existence of helium rain inside planets composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, such as Jupiter and Saturn….
Scientists Model Saturn’s Interior – Thick Layer of Helium Rain May Influence the Planet’s Magnetic Field
Researchers simulate conditions necessary for planet’s unique magnetic field. New Johns Hopkins University simulations offer an intriguing look into Saturn’s interior, suggesting that a thick…
Encased in an Icy Shell, the Ocean on Saturn’s Moon Enceladus Appears to Be Churning
Buried beneath 20 kilometers of ice, the subsurface ocean of Enceladus—one of Saturn’s moons—appears to be churning with currents akin to those on Earth. The…
Saturn’s Spring Witnessed Up Close by an Emissary From Earth
Spring doesn’t just happen on Earth. Spring also happens on some of our neighboring planets in the solar system. Of the countless equinoxes Saturn has…
Worlds With Underground Oceans – Like Europa, Titan, and Enceladus – May Be More Conducive to Supporting Life Than Earth
Layers of ice and rock obviate the need for “habitable zone” and shield life against threats. SwRI researcher theorizes worlds with underground oceans may be…
