The Interior of Saturn Target Name:   Saturn Spacecraft:   Voyager Produced by:   Calvin J. Hamilton Copyright:  © 2002 Calvin J. Hamilton Date Released:  12 January 2002 (Publisher Permission Request)

• Saturn

This picture illustrates the internal structure of Saturn. The outer layer is primarily composed of molecular hydrogen. As we go deeper where the presure reaches 100,000 bars, the gas starts to resemble a hot liquid. When the hydrogen reaches a pressure of 1,000,000 bar, hydrogen changes into a new state of metallic hydrogen. In this state it resembles a molten metal. This metalic hydrogen state occurs at about half of Saturn's radius. Below this is a layer dominated by ice where "ice" denotes a soupy liquid mixture of water, methane, and ammonia under high temperatures and pressures. Finally at the center is a rocky or rocky-ice core.