The document discusses Saturn, the second largest planet in the solar system. It is known for its mystical rings and takes approximately 30 Earth years to orbit the Sun. Saturn is mostly gaseous and has no solid surface, with powerful winds moving 10 times faster than hurricanes on Earth. Saturn's ring system is the most complicated in the solar system, made of ice and rock particles, and their existence has puzzled scientists. Saturn has over 50 moons, with Titan being the largest and possibly able to sustain life. Extensive research of Saturn and its moons will continue for years to come.

1. By
Amita Vadlamudi

2.  Having been formed approximately 4.6 billion
years ago this almost magical solar system
comprises of the Sun (a star at the heart of the
solar system), the planets, their moons, and
other astronomical objects.

4.  Being the second largest planet in the solar
system, Saturn is widely known for the
mystical rings that surround it. It is 839 million
miles (1.4 billion km) from the Sun and takes
approximately 30 Earth Years to make one
orbit around the Sun, making the days short
(approximately 10 hours and 34 minutes) and
the years longer (1 Saturn year equals to 29.5
Earth years).

5.  Being 755 times larger in volume than the
Earth, the planet’s diameter is 74,897 miles
(120,536 km) while the distance between its
north and south pole is 67,560 miles (108,728
km). Unlike the Earth, Saturn has no solid
ground; instead it is mostly gaseous made up
of helium and hydrogen in the outer
atmosphere. Internally the planet is enveloped
by powerful winds that move 10 times faster
than the most violent hurricanes of the Earth.

6.  Saturn’s ring system is the fastest and most
complicated of the entire solar system. These rings
which orbit the planet are made up of billions of
particles of water, ice, and hints of rocky material.
The rocks are thought to have come from asteroids
and moons that broke apart before they even
reached the planet. The rings have thrown
researchers and scientists into a conundrum ever
since they were discovered by Galileo in 1610, as
no one has been able to discover why they are
there. Despite the rings’ incredible width they are
known to be very thin, being just 33 feet thick.

7.  Saturn has 53 identified moons and an additional 9
which are being studied. Majority of the moons are
very small, however, the largest of them is named
Titan. Titan is known to be larger than Mercury
and is also the second largest moon in the solar
system after Jupiter’s Ganymede. Titan is thought
to possibly be able to sustain life since its seasonal
and surface characters are similar to that of Earth’s.
Extensive astronomical research has been launched
ever since it came under the telescope, and it can
be said with certainty that this research will go on
for years to come.

8.  Amita Vadlamudi, a computer professional
finds the study of astronomy to be a fascinating
subject. In her spare time Amita Vadlamudi
likes to read and write about the astronomical
objects, particularly the ones in the very
neighborhood of the planet earth.