Expert: Philip Stahl - 1/19/2007

Question
i'm doing research for a magazine article about saturn. could you tell me about the makeup of the rings? as much information about the planet. can we as humans ever live on saturn? relevant websites. are there experts besides yourself i can do an email interview with?
thanks,
Francelle

Answer
Hello,

Saturn's rings are made up mostly of ice particles, tens of billions of them varying in scale from house-sized to dust specks.

An excellent article on Saturn and its rings can be found in the July, 2006 issue of 'ASTRONOMY' - which details all the major findings of the recent Cassini probe - and far too much to give here.

This magazine should be available at your library or you can possibly purchase a back issue by going to:

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx

You can find further information and link at this site:

http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/saturn/saturn.html

Unfortunately, I do not know of any experts on Saturn that you can interview. However, since the Cassini probe was prepared at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA -you might be able to find someone at the link below to interview (look for any 'Saturn' or 'Cassini' links):

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/

Lastly, it is most unlikely humans will ever be able to live on Saturn. It's atmosphere is too inhospitable as are the temperatures! It is possible that humans may one day set up bases on one or more of Saturn's moons.

Good luck!