Saturn Day Shorter Than Expected | Ken Croswell | Science

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In summary, scientists have discovered that the days on Saturn are 6 minutes shorter than previously thought, resulting in faster winds and a change in how scientists understand the planet's atmosphere. This information was obtained by tracking cloud movements and studying the planet's equatorial bulge and rotation speed. The new findings suggest the need for a better understanding of Saturn's internal mass distribution.
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CygnusX-1
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by Ken Croswell

Bad news for any slackers on Saturn: The days on the ringed planet are shorter than the number you'll find in most books--6 minutes briefer, to be exact. The faster spin drastically changes how scientists think Saturn's winds blow.

Full story: Science.
 
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Interesting that a 6 minute change in day length results in an additional 400KPH at the equator and so has a significant impact on winds.
 
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So shorts and sandals are out?
 
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Drakkith said:
So shorts and sandals are out?
No, they're OK, just don't wear anything loose. Tight-fitting clothes with lots of lead weights in the pockets are the current style on Saturn.
 
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Interesting. Equatorial bulge and rotation speed combined are a typical method to determine the interior structure of an object (see our Ceres thread). Reversing this approach means they need a good idea of the mass distribution inside ("using [...] possible internal density profiles").
It is nice to see that tracking the clouds gives similar results. I wonder why the old value - that apparently was known to be unreliable - was used then.
 

1. How did scientists discover that Saturn's day is shorter than expected?

Scientists discovered that Saturn's day is shorter than expected by analyzing data collected by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The spacecraft measured the gravitational pull of Saturn's rings, which allowed scientists to determine the planet's rotation rate.

2. Why was Saturn's day expected to be longer?

Saturn's day was expected to be longer because the planet is mostly made up of gas and has a low density. This led scientists to believe that Saturn would rotate more slowly than solid planets like Earth.

3. What is the exact length of Saturn's day?

The exact length of Saturn's day, based on data from the Cassini spacecraft, is 10 hours, 33 minutes, and 38 seconds. This is about 6 minutes shorter than previously thought.

4. How does Saturn's shorter day affect its atmosphere?

Saturn's shorter day affects its atmosphere by causing strong winds that travel at high speeds around the planet. These winds can reach speeds of up to 1,100 miles per hour, which is faster than the speed of sound on Earth.

5. What other factors may have contributed to Saturn's shorter day?

Other factors that may have contributed to Saturn's shorter day include the planet's internal structure and its magnetic field. These factors can influence the planet's rotation rate and may have played a role in Saturn's unexpected rotation speed.

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