Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest planet in the Solar System.
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System. It is a gas giant famous for its brilliant ring system and dozens of moons.
What it is
Saturn is a gas giant with no solid surface, composed mostly of hydrogen and helium. Its average density is only about 70% that of water, meaning it would hypothetically float in a sufficiently large ocean. Its ring system is the most extensive and visually prominent of any planet in the Solar System.
Why it matters
Saturn has more officially recognized moons than any other planet, including Titan — its largest moon — which is of great scientific interest for its thick atmosphere and liquid hydrocarbon lakes. Canadian universities and observatories frequently study Saturn through international research, making it a key target for Canadian astronomy education and skywatching.
Key details
Saturn orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 1.4 billion km and takes 29.4 Earth years to complete one orbit, while a Saturn day lasts just 10.7 hours. Its distance from Earth varies from about 1.2 billion km at closest approach to 1.7 billion km at its farthest.
In short
- Saturn is a gas giant made mostly of hydrogen and helium.
- It has the most extensive ring system of any planet.
- Saturn has dozens of moons, more than any other planet.
- Its average density is lower than water.
Saturn is a prominent target for Canadian astronomy education, skywatching, and space science interest, and it is frequently studied through international solar-system research used by Canadian universities and observatories.
Quick questions
How far is Saturn from Earth?
How many moons does Saturn have?
What is Saturn made of?
Sources
- NASA — https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/facts/Supports: Saturn's composition, orbital period, rotation period, density, and general facts.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/place/Saturn-planetSupports: Saturn's place in the Solar System, distance from Earth, moons, and density.
- NASA — https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/Supports: Saturn's status, rings, moons, and composition.
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — https://www.britannica.com/question/How-far-is-Saturn-from-EarthSupports: Closest distance between Saturn and Earth.
- CK-12 — https://www.ck12.org/flexi/earth-science/saturn/how-far-is-saturn-from-earth/Supports: Range of Earth-Saturn distance due to orbital positions.