Saturn

1. Seen from Earth, Saturn's rings sometimes appear broad and brilliant, but at other times seem to disappear. Why?

2. What is a ring crossing? When will the next one occur?

3. Why does Saturn have a less varied appearance than Jupiter?

4. What does Saturn's shape tell us about its deep interior?

5. Compare and contrast the atmospheres and weather systems of Saturn and Jupiter, and tell how the differences affect each planet's appearance.

6. Compare the thicknesses of Saturn's various layers (clouds, molecular hydrogen, metallic hydrogen, and core) with the equivalent layers in Jupiter. Why do the thicknesses differ?

7. What is the mechanism responsible for the relative absence of helium in Saturn's atmosphere, compared with Jupiter's atmosphere?

8. Is Saturn as a whole deficient in helium relative to Jupiter?