About Saturn's Surface

The planet Saturn is famous for its rings, which do not touch the surface.

Saturn with a diameter 10 times that of the Earth, is the second-largest planet in the solar system. Orbiting the sun at a maximum distance of 941,070,000 miles, it receives much less warmth from the sun than Earth.

Composition

The surface of Saturn is not solid, but rather several layers of gases and liquid metallic compounds. Saturn's atmosphere is composed of hydrogen and helium, below which is a layer of these two elements in a viscous form.

Temperature

At the top of the clouds on the surface of Saturn, the temperature averages -285 degrees F. Beneath the surface, the temperature is much higher, which is believed to be a result of the energy generated as helium sinks through the liquid helium in the planet's interior, according to the NASA Worldbook.

Winds

The planet's internal heat is thought to drive large storm cells on the planet's surface. Winds in Saturn's atmosphere have been measured at 1,800 kilometers per hour.

References

• NASA Worldbook: Saturn
• University of Tennessee Dept. of Physic & Astronomy: Saturn - The Surface and Interior