ICY SCIENCE: SCIENCE SPACE ASTRONOMY Spring 2014 | Page 20

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Saturn- The Ring Bearer by D Bood

Distinctive and impressive, Saturn is truly a wonder to be observed through a telescope. One of four gas giants and the
second largest planet in our solar system, Saturn orbits out in a cold region of our neighbourhood.

Saturn is the sixth planet out from the sun and has a very distinctive ring system. All the gas giants have faint rings; however
the ices that make up Saturn’s rings make them highly reflective.

There are four gas giants in our system, Jupiter the largest planet, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. However Uranus and Neptune
are also known as the Ice giants. The ice giants have a less volatile composition and contain less hydrogen than Jupiter and
Saturn. The ice giants are composed mainly of ices and are thought not to have metallic hydrogen at their cores.
Images: Above Saturn -NASA Opposite: Jupiter, Uranus, Neptune

ICY SCIENCE | QTR 2 SPRING 2014