Glossary (SATURN)

Ring System

Saturn's ring system is the most extensive and complex in the solar system, composed of countless ice particles ranging from tiny grains to large chunks. The rings are divided into several sections named alphabetically in the order of their discovery.

Titan

Titan is Saturn's largest moon and the second-largest moon in the solar system. It has a thick atmosphere primarily composed of nitrogen, with lakes and rivers of liquid methane and ethane on its surface, making it a key target in the search for extraterrestrial life.

Enceladus

Enceladus is a small, icy moon of Saturn known for its geysers that spew water vapor and ice particles from its subsurface ocean through cracks in its icy crust. These plumes suggest potential habitability and have been a major focus of astrobiological studies.

Jet Streams

Saturn exhibits powerful jet streams in its atmosphere, with winds reaching speeds of up to 1,800 kilometers per hour (1,100 miles per hour). These jet streams contribute to the planet's distinctive banded appearance.

Hexagonal Polar Vortex

The hexagonal polar vortex on Saturn's north pole is a persistent, hexagon-shaped cloud pattern. This unique feature, first observed by the Voyager spacecraft and later studied in detail by the Cassini mission, spans about 30,000 kilometers (18,600 miles) across.

NASA's Cassini

NASA's Cassini spacecraft was a mission to study Saturn and its moons, launched in 1997. It provided a wealth of information about the planet's rings, atmosphere, and magnetosphere, as well as detailed observations of moons like Titan and Enceladus, before concluding its mission in 2017.