GEOL 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 19.6: Gas Giant
Document Summary
Second largest planet in the solar system. Orbited by more than 50 named moons. Gas giant circled by more than a set of rings. Nearly twice as far from the sun as jupiter. Distance between saturn and jupiter is greater than the distance between the sun and mars. Become liquid when compressed closer to the core of the planet. Mini solar system (like jupiter) since it is orbited by a collection of large and small moons. Distance between rings and planet is nearly equal to the distance between the. Consist of widely separated icy chunks floating in space. The size of sand, pebbles, and boulders. Second largest moon in the solar system. Surface is obscured by a thick atmosphere of nitrogen and methane. Captured images of drainage networks and a body of water. Distinctive because most if its icy cratered surface is light colored. Darker side is a coating of dust. Most likely escaped from an adjacent moon.
