Atmosphere – What are the similarities and differences of the Atmospheres ( of the earth and Saturn)? How does this define a Goldilocks planet? Comparison of Earth and Saturn’s Atmosphere: Exploring the Concept of a Goldilocks Planet

Comparison of Earth and Saturn’s Atmosphere: Exploring the Concept of a Goldilocks Planet

Earth and Saturn’s atmospheres have a number of similarities and differences. Both planets contain a variety of gases and molecules, including nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and methane (NASA, 2020). Additionally, both atmospheres contain varying levels of dust and aerosols in their atmospheres (NASA, 2020). However, the composition of gases and aerosols differ between the two planets, as the Earth’s atmosphere is composed of 78% nitrogen, 21% oxygen, 0.9% argon, and 0.04% carbon dioxide (NASA, 2020). On the other hand, Saturn’s atmosphere is composed of 96.3% hydrogen and 3.25% helium (NASA, 2020). The concept of a Goldilocks planet, or a planet that is “just right” for life, is based on the planet’s ability to sustain life. In comparison to Saturn, Earth’s atmosphere is considered to be more hospitable for life, as it contains the necessary elements for life to exist, such as nitrogen and oxygen, in the proper ratios (Kasting, 2019). Cont…