Saturn
Introduction
Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun in our solar system, with a diameter of approximately 116,464 kilometers. It is a gas giant planet, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium, and its stunning ring system makes it a unique world.
Orbital Characteristics
Details
- Orbital Period: 29.5 Earth years
- Rotation Period: 10 hours 39 minutes
- Eccentricity: 0.0541
- Semi-major Axis: 1,426,666,400 km
Physical Characteristics
Details
- Diameter: 116,464 km
- Mass: 5.6846 x 10^26 kg
- Surface Gravity: 10.44 m/s^2
- Composition: Hydrogen, helium, and other gases
Atmosphere
Details
- Composition: hydrogen, helium, and other gases
- Pressure: 1000 mbar at cloud level
- Temperature: Ranges from -180°C to -145°C (-292°F to -233°F)
Rings
Details
- Composition: ice and rock particles
- Size: up to 282,000 km in diameter
- Thickness: up to 30 meters
Moons
Details
- Titan: the largest moon, with a thick atmosphere
- Enceladus: a moon with geysers and a possible ocean
- Dione: a moon with a possible subsurface ocean
- Rhea: a moon with a heavily cratered surface
Exploration
Missions
- Pioneer 11: The first spacecraft to visit Saturn, in 1979.
- Voyager 1 and 2: NASA missions that sent spacecraft to Saturn in 1980 and 1981.
- Cassini-Huygens: A NASA mission that orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017.
Interesting Facts
Did you know?
- Saturn’s rings are made of ice: and rock particles, and are a unique feature of our solar system.
- Saturn’s moons are diverse: each moon has its own distinct characteristics, such as Titan’s atmosphere and Enceladus’ geysers.
- Saturn’s winds are fast: they can reach up to 1,800 km/h, making them some of the fastest in the solar system.
- Saturn has a unique magnetosphere: it is shaped like a doughnut and is powered by the planet’s rapid rotation and convection in the interior.