The Ringed Planet

Saturn has been the most beautiful planet of our solar system since the beggining but what are the reasons for its ring? what does it hold inside? and could it sustain life? these are the questions that I will be answering today.

What is the reason for its rings?

Saturn's rings were first observed by galileo galile in 1610 using his own telescope but couldn't identify the rings. Therefore, he told the Duke of Tuscany that "Saturn is not alone" and further added that "Saturn is not just one planet but three planets that never move nor touch each other" But was made baffled when transist occured and the rings dissapeard in 1611. 

    There are mainly two theories for the formation of saturn's rings. The first one was proposed by Eduard Rouche. He claimed that there was a moon of saturn named Veritas that went into low orbit due to saturn's gravitational pull and then it collapsed into saturn therefore the debris that remained there were formed into its rings. The facts that support this theory is that the moons are generally made up of ice and saturn's rings are made up of ice as well. 

    The other theory is that the rings are just part of the nebular material that was left over from the debris from which saturn was made.

    What does it hold inside?  

Like Jupiter its core's interal pressure is so high that hydrogen exists in liquid state. Theory states that the saturn's core has a solid mettalic ball at the centre and surrounding it is liquid hydrogen and helium. Interesting fact : If Saturn would have been huge enough, it would be able to have nuclear fusion at its core therefore, we would have two stars!

     Could it sustain life?

   Life on saturn is impossible beacuse there is no surface. Scientists state that there is just the atmosphere holding the hot core of saturn in it's place. Therefore to be able to sustain life, saturn should have a surface. The other thing is that its amospheric pressure is very high just like venus but it is so light that if one would accommodate enough water for saturn to fit in, it would float!