Saturn is one of the most recognizable planets for both amateur astronomers and the pubic alike. The rings really help make the planet unique and help bring the mystique of the planet to life. For those with an amateur telescope, the best time to view Saturn is during the summer months at which time, one can se the rings, 3 or 4 moons, and potentially the Cassini Division.

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Just like Jupiter, Saturn is a gas giant with an average radius of about 9x the radius of Earth. It only has 1/8th the average density of Earth; however, with its larger volume, Saturn is over 95x more massive. Saturn is named after the Roman god of wealth and agriculture; its astronomical symbol (♄) represents the god’s sickle.

	Value
Size	36,184 miles
Distance To The Sun	890.8 million miles or 9.5 AU
Length of A Day	10 hours 42 minutes
Length Of A Year	29 years
Temperature (Lows and Highs)	Lows: -290°F Highs: 800°F
Number Of Moons	82
Number Of Rings	7 groups
Missions To The Planet	3
Atmosphere	Approximately 75% hydrogen and 25% helium with traces of other substances like methane and water ice
Size Compared To Earth	9 times wider than Earth
Discoverer And Discovery Date	Known By Ancients

Moons

With 82 moons, Saturn is the king of moons as it has thee most number of moons of any planet. These moons range in size from larger than the planet Mercury, which is the moon Titan, to as small as a sports arena. 53 of these moon are officially named, while 29 are awaiting naming. Two of these moons, Enceladus and Titan have been of great interest to science.

Rings

One of the most popular and most striking features of Saturn is its rings. There are a total of 7 rings, with these rings varying in size. The theories for the formation of these rings vary, but the leading theory is that they are comprised of comets, asteroids or shattered moons that broke up before they reached the planet, torn apart by Saturn’s powerful gravity.

Fun Facts

Check out the Planetary Bodies Category for previous and upcoming articles on the solar system planets.

Sources

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Cassini-Huygens/Saturn_s_atmosphere