The distance from the Earth to Saturn. How far away is Saturn from us?

Saturn - the sixth planet of the solar system. The second largest, and its density is so small that if you fill a huge reservoir with water and put there Saturn, then it will freely stay on the surface, not submerging in the water entirely. The main attraction of Saturn is its rings consisting of dust, gas and ice. A huge number of rings surround the planet, whose diameter exceeds the diameter of the Earth several times.

What is it - Saturn?

First you need to figure out what kind of planet it is and with what it's "eaten". Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun, named in honor of the ancient Roman god Saturn. The Greeks called him Kronos, the father of Zeus (Jupiter). At the farthest point of the orbit (aphelion), the distance from the star is 1 513 billion km.

Planetary days are only 10 hours and 34 minutes, but the planetary year lasts for 29.5 terrestrial. The atmosphere of the gas giant consists mainly of hydrogen (it accounts for 92%). The remaining 8% fall on the admixture of helium, methane, ammonia, ethane, etc.

Launched in 1977, the Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 vehicles reached the orbit of Saturn a couple of years ago and provided scientists with invaluable information about this planet. Winds were seen on the surface, whose speed reached 500 m / s. For example, the strongest wind on Earth reached only 103 m / s (New Hampshire, Mount Washington).

Like the Great Red Spot on Jupiter there is a Great White Oval on Saturn. But the second one appears only every 30 years, and its last appearance was in 1990. In a couple of years we will be able to watch him again.

The ratio of the dimensions of Saturn and the Earth

How many times is Saturn bigger than Earth? According to some information, only in diameter Saturn outperforms our planet in 10 times. By volume 764 times, that is, Saturn can accommodate exactly such a number of our planets. The width of Saturn's rings exceeds the diameter of our blue planet by 6 times. So it's gigantic.

Distance from Earth to Saturn

First, you need to take into account the fact that all the planets of the solar system move not in a circle, but in ellipses (ovals). There come times when the distance from the Sun changes. It can become closer, can be removed. On Earth, this is clearly visible. This is called the change of seasons. But here the role of the rotation and inclination of our planet relative to the orbit plays a role.

Therefore, the distance from the Earth to Saturn will vary considerably. Now you will know how much. With the help of scientific measurements it was calculated that the minimum distance from the Earth to Saturn in kilometers is 1195 million, while the maximum is 1660 million.

How long to fly to Saturn from Earth

As is known, the speed of light (according to Einstein's theory of relativity) is an irresistible limit in the universe. It seems to us unattainable. But on a cosmic scale, it is negligible. For 8 minutes, light travels to the Earth, and this is 150 million km (1 AU). The distance to Saturn has to be overcome in 1 hour and 20 minutes. It's not so long, you will say, but just think about the speed of light is 300 000 m / s!

If you take a rocket for a vehicle, it will take years to overcome the distance. Space vehicles aimed at studying the giant planets took from 2.5 to 3 years. At the moment they are outside the solar system. Many scientists believe that the distance from the Earth to Saturn can be overcome in 6 years and 9 months.

What awaits a person from Saturn?

Why do we need this hydrogen planet at all, where life would never have arisen? Saturn is interested in scientists by its moon called Titan. The largest satellite of Saturn and the second largest in the solar system (after Ganymede at Jupiter). He was no less interested in scientists than Mars. Titanium is larger in size than Mercury, and there are even rivers on its surface. True, the rivers are from liquid methane and ethane.

The force of attraction on the satellite is less than on Earth. The main element present in the atmosphere is the hydrocarbon. If we manage to get to Titan, this will be a very acute problem for us. But they will not need tight suits. Only very warm clothes and a balloon with oxygen. Given the density and strength of Titan's attraction, it can be said with great certainty that a person will be able to fly. The fact is that under such conditions our body can freely float in the air without having strong resistance from gravity. We will only need the usual model wings. And even in the event of a breakdown, a person can gently "saddle" the hard surface of the satellite without problems.

For the safe settlement of Titan, you will need to build whole cities under hemispherical domes. Only then will it be possible to recreate a climate similar to that of the earth, for more comfortable living and growing the necessary food, as well as the extraction of valuable mineral resources from the bowels of the planet.

An acute problem will be a lack of sunlight, because the Sun near Saturn seems a small yellow star. The replacement of solar batteries will be a hydrocarbon that covers the entire planet in abundant seas. From it, the first colonizers will receive energy. The water is deep beneath the surface of the satellite in the form of ice.