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Space
Station Info :: Nine Planet Solar System ::
Saturn :: Saturn Moons
Saturn Moons
Saturn has a large number of moons, 49 are currently confirmed,
34 of which have names. The precise figure will never
be certain as the orbiting chunks of ice in Saturn's
rings are all technically moons, and it is difficult
to draw a distinction between a large ring particle
and a tiny moon.
Saturn's most noteworthy moon is Titan,
the only moon in the solar system to have a dense atmosphere.
Due to the tidal forces of Saturn, the moons are currently
not at the same position as they were when they were
first formed. |
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Saturn Oppositions ( 2001-2029)
Until 1980, the structure of the rings of Saturn was briefed
totally as the action of gravitational forces.The Voyager
spacecraft establish radial features in the B ring, called
spokes, which might not be explained in this way, as their
perseverance and rotation around the rings were not reliable
with orbital mechanics. The spokes emerge dark against the
lit side of the rings, and light when seen next to the unlit
side. It is assumed that they are connected to electromagnetic
connections, as they rotate almost synchronously with the
magnetosphere of Saturn. However, the precise mechanism behind
the spokes is still unknown .25 years later, Cassini observed
the spokes again.
They emerge to be a recurring phenomenon,
disappearing in the Saturnian midwinter/midsummer and reappearing
as Saturn comes faster to equinox. The spokes were not visible
when Cassini arrived at Saturn in early 2004. Some scientists
speculated that the spokes would not be visible again until
2007, based on models attempting to illustrate spoke formation.
Nevertheless, the Cassini imaging team reserved looking for
spokes in images of the rings, and the spokes reappeared in
images taken September 5, 2005.
| Saturn's Opposition
Periods 2001–2005 |
| Date
of Opposition |
Distance to
Earth (AU) |
Angular diameter |
| December 3, 2001 |
8.08 |
20.6 arcsec |
| December 17, 2002 |
8.05 |
20.7 arcsec |
| December 31, 2003 |
8.05 |
20.7 arcsec |
| January 13, 2005 |
8.08 |
20.6arcsec |
Saturn appears to the naked eye in the night sky as a bright,
yellowish star varying usually between magnitude +1 and 0
and takes approximately 29 and a half years to make a complete
circuit of the ecliptic against the background constellations
of the zodiac. Optical aid (a large pair of binoculars or
a telescope) magnifying at least 20X is required to clearly
resolve Saturn's rings for most people.
Appearance
| Stationary,
retrograde |
Opposition |
Distance
to Earth (AU) |
Maximum
Brightness (mag) |
Diametre |
Inclination
of ring |
Stationary,
prograde |
Conjunction
to Sun |
| October 26, 2003 |
December 31, 2003 |
8.05014 |
-0.5 |
20.70" |
-25,5° |
March 7, 2004 |
July 8, 2004 |
| November 8, 2004 |
January 13, 2005 |
8.07564 |
-0.4 |
20.64" |
-22,8° |
March 22, 2005 |
July 23, 2005 |
| November 22, 2005 |
January 27, 2006 |
8.12682 |
-0.2 |
20.51" |
-18,9° |
April 5,2006 |
August 8, 2006 |
| December 6, 2006 |
February 10, 2007 |
8.20033 |
0.0 |
20.32" |
-13,9° |
April 20, 2007 |
August 21, 2007 |
| December 20, 2007 |
February 24, 2008 |
8.29136 |
0.2 |
20.10" |
-8,4° |
May 3, 2008 |
September 4, 2008 |
| January 1, 2009 |
March 8, 2009 |
8.39440 |
0.5 |
19.85" |
-2,6° |
May 17, 2009 |
September 17, 2009 |
| January 14, 2010 |
March 22, 2010 |
8.50379 |
0.5 |
19.60" |
3,2° |
May 31, 2010 |
October 1, 2010 |
| January 27, 2011 |
April 3, 2011 |
8.61392 |
0.4 |
19.35" |
8,7° |
June 14, 2011 |
October 13, 2011 |
Also see about
Saturn
Physical Characteristics
Saturn Rotation and Revolution
History Of Saturn
Physical
Characteristics Of Ring
Exploration
Of Saturn
Saturn's
Moons
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