Explore Saturn

Student Planet Facts

Saturn is the next biggest planet in the solar system. Here are some facts and other places you can find information. When you are ready, click back to return to the Student Center or click below to explore again.

Saturn and moons Saturn and some of its moons can be seen in the composite image at left. Four more moons were found in late 2000 and 9 more were discovered recently for a total of 31. Scientists are tracking more objects that may be additional moons.

The Voyager missions found winds, magnetic field, auroras and lightning on the planet similar to Jupiter. Also, the planet has light colored cloud bands (zones) and darker bands (belts) like the larger gas giant.

The facinating ring system observed by Galileo in 1610 is only begining to be understood. At first thought to be a solid ring it is now known to be thousands of water ice particles with some chunks as big as a small car. The rings are held in place by moons that "shephard" the particles and keep them in a series of ringlets. Some gaps like the Casinni Division separate the ringlets called the "A Ring", "B Ring" and so on. The Cassini/Huygens spacecraft will pass through between the "F" and "G" rings on its way to orbit Saturn (see below).

Gravity and You
Your weight on Earth is determined by your mass and Earth's mass. Would you weigh more or less on Saturn?

Planet Names
Why are the planets named for Roman gods? What is the story or myth about their names? Click image or here for Planet Myths and Lore.

The Cassini/Huygens Mission is headed to Saturn.
The Cassini orbiter will study the planet and the Huygens probe will land on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. To find out when it will arrive and information on the mission click image or here, Cassini Mission.

Are There Planets Like Saturn Around Other Stars?
The first planet outside of our solar system was discovered around 51 Pegasi, a small star in the constellation Pegasus. Since then more than 100 planets have been found. For more information on how astronomers discover new planets click image or here NASA/JPL Planetquest.

New! Click here to find out about "The Professor's Telescope", a new book by Chris Moreau, one of our advisors. Take an adventure with Eric to Saturn!

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Quick Facts about Saturn

Topic

Data

Diameter

120,536 km

Density

0.69 g/cm³

Mass

5.688 x 10²⁶ kg

Volume

8.183 x 10¹⁴ km³

Temperature Range

-191° C to >-130° C

Atmosphere

Hydrogen, Helium, Methane

Winds

Up to 400 m/s

Moons

31

Average Distance from Sun

1,429,400,000 km

Orbital Period

29 Years, 167 Days, 6.7 Hours

Rotation

0 Days, 10.233 Hours

Tilt

25.33°

Rings

Yes

Composition

Hydrogen and Helium

Magnetic Field

Extremely strong

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The Nine Planets
NASA Planet Facts
Galileo Mission
Voyager I and II Missions
Cassini Mission
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