Synopsis
Presents information known about Saturn, its rings, and moons.
Children's Literature
Saturn is a gaseous giant that has captured the imagination of scientists and the general public because of the beautiful rings that encircle it. These rings, that are actually orbiting fields of gas and debris, give Saturn a unique visual image. Saturn is a planet that has a density less than water. If there were an ocean large enough to place Saturn within it, the planet would float upon its surface. Saturn is a huge planet ten times wider than earth. Saturn orbits the sun every 29.5 years and is a bitterly cold environment. On several occasions man-made probes have been sent to photograph Saturn. In 2004 the most recent probe, Cassini, will arrive within reach of Saturn. This probe is scheduled to take over 500,000 photos of Saturn and should provide a wealth of new scientific data. Saturn is a striking member of our planetary system and one the author Gregory Vogt discusses in this element of "The Galaxy" series. Vogt presents scientific information related to Saturn and does so in a way that will intrigue readers. Vogt also includes many telescopically generated photographs of Saturn as well as a selection of shots taken by probes. As in other books in this series the author presents a complex topic in a way that will motivate younger readers to learn more about not only Saturn but also the cosmos in general. 2000, Bridgestone Books, Romaneck