Saturn - is the most mysterious planet in the solar system. Most controversy revolves around her rings. In size it is second only to Jupiter. On the surface of Saturn’s winds of up to 1800 km / h and the average temperature is – 180 ° C.

Saturn was named after the god Saturn of Roman mythology.

To date, 62 known satellite of a planet, which revolve around her. At the forefront of satellite Titan, which is considered the largest of them, and the second largest satellite in our solar system. Satellite Tethys is an image of Titan. Photo was taken November 26, 2009 Space Cassini automated vehicle. The distance from Cassini to Tesis is 2.2 million km, and to Titan – 1 million km.

Titan the only body in our solar system besides Earth, on the surface of which proved the existence of a liquid, it is also the only moon of Saturn, has a dense atmosphere. In a study of Titan have been put forward the hypothesis that it is a primitive form of life. The natural color of Titan.

One of the images, which proves the presence of liquid on Titan. Scientists believe that the photo received on 8 July 2009, the light reflected from one of the many lakes of the satellite.

The atmosphere of the satellite Titan. Picture taken October 12, 2009 at a distance of 145 000 km.

Diameter of Titan is twice larger than that of the moon and is equal to 5150 km. In addition, Titan is heavier than its 80%. Pressure at the surface of the satellite is 1.5 times higher than the pressure of Earth’s atmosphere. In the photo comparison of the size of the moon Titan and Earth.

The shadow of Titan – the largest satellite of Saturn on its surface. The distance from which the photo was taken, is about 2.1 million km.

The rings of Saturn, Titan, and Mimas.

Photo of Titan sdelannoe18 March 2010.

Photo Tesis – icy moon of Saturn, made by 14 October 2009. His opened in 1684 by Giovanni Domenico Cassini. In cross section the size of the satellite is equal to 1 000 km.

Mimas – a small moon of Saturn, a diameter of just 396 km.

Image of Mimas, made on 13 February 2010, at a distance of 70 000 km.

Another photo from a distance the satellite Mimas 9500 km. One can see a huge crater Herschel, with a diameter of 130 km.

Calypso – a small satellite. Named after the nymph of the mythology of Ancient Greece. Its shape is not correct, dimensions – 30 × 23 × 14 km.

The average distance between the Sun and Saturn is approximately equal to 1434 million km, and between the Earth – 1 300 million km. Around the Sun, Saturn asks for 29.5 years, which is for 10 759 days. Saturn is heavier than the Earth 95 times, but its average density is 0.69 g only / cm ³, this is the only planet in our system, whose density is less than the density of water. The diameter of the Earth’s equator 10 times smaller than Saturn. On the photo taken in September 2009 with a distance of approximately 2.7 million kilometers on the left below shows a white dot – the satellite Mimas.

Saturn – the planet is a gas, which consists of hydrogen in the main, it does not have a solid surface. In the photo comparison of the size of the sun and planets. Right to left: Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, Jupiter (the four giant planets), then Mars, Earth, Venus, Mercury (terrestrial planets).

Photo of Enceladus – another moon of Saturn (in diameter – 500 km), made July 26, 2009. On the surface, this whip is much colder than the other satellites of Saturn and the temperature reaches -200 ° C. Using Cassini – Outer automated vehicle in June of this year, scientists found that in his ocean of water in its composition is close to the earth – it is salty. These findings increase the likelihood of life on Enceladus.

Rings of Saturn and satellite Enceladus.

The surface of Enceladus is covered with ice. Cassini is at a distance of 2028 km away, a picture taken November 21, 2009. Enceladus was named in honor Enkelada – giants of mythology of Ancient Greece.

The surface of Enceladus.

Aspect ratio of Enceladus and Earth.

The surface of Enceladus.

In March 1980, was opened by Elena – the natural satellite of Saturn.

Part of Helena and clouds in Saturn’s atmosphere

Prometheus – one natural satellite of Saturn, which has an elongated irregular shape.

The second-largest satellite of Saturn is Ray. It was opened in 1672.

Rhea and Epimetheus – small inner moon of Saturn. Picture taken from a distance of 1.6 million km Epimetheus. And of Rhea – 1.2 million km. Saturn in the background.

The planet Saturn and its dark side, and Enceladus. Mysterious Ring – this is a continuous solid on circumplanetary orbit, which is composed of billions of very small particles. The rings themselves are very thin. The thickness of just 1 kilometer in diameter 250 000 km.

The rings were formed from a large number of rings, which alternate with slits. Outwardly, they look at the track records.

Another natural satellite of Saturn, called Dione, which opened in 1684 by Giovanni Cassini. It is very similar to Rhea.

Dione photograph the moon’s surface, made April 7, 2010. Its diameter is 1123 km.

Dion on the background of the largest satellite Titan.