Saturn, named after the Roman god of agriculture and wealth, is the seventh-smallest planet in our solar system. Often referred to as “the ringed planet” due to its prominent ring of icy debris. Features of the planet include a “surface” consisting of gas with liquids deeper within the planet.
The planet has been explored by four unmanned spacecraft. These include Pioneer 11, Voyager 1, Voyager 2, and Cassini.
Traditional life here has been deemed unlikely due to the pressures and the planet largely consisting of gas.
Important Stats
- 6th planet from the Sun (927 million miles)
- 53 moons
- 72,367 miles in diameter
- 27 degree axis tilt
- 10,759 day long years
- 105% of Earth’s gravity (10.44 m/s²)
- Average temperature of -285 degrees F
- Atmospheric makeup of mostly hydrogen and helium gas
Moons
- Titan
- Hyperion
- Phoebe
- 50 other moons…
Ring Composition
Thought to be largely composed of pieces of comets, asteroids, and shattered moons. The rings are billions of small chunks of ice and rock that are coated in dust.
Surface Photos
