Designations | |||||||||||||
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Pronunciation | /ˈsætərn/ ( listen) | ||||||||||||
Named after
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Saturn | ||||||||||||
Adjectives | Saturnian, Cronian | ||||||||||||
Orbital characteristics | |||||||||||||
Epoch J2000.0 | |||||||||||||
Aphelion | 1,514.50 million km (10.1238 AU) | ||||||||||||
Perihelion | 1,352.55 million km (9.0412 AU) | ||||||||||||
1,433.53 million km (9.5826 AU) | |||||||||||||
Eccentricity | 0.0565 | ||||||||||||
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378.09 days | |||||||||||||
Average orbital speed
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9.68 km/s (6.01 mi/s) | ||||||||||||
317.020° | |||||||||||||
Inclination |
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113.665° | |||||||||||||
339.392° | |||||||||||||
Known satellites | 62 with formal designations; innumerable additional moonlets. | ||||||||||||
Physical characteristics | |||||||||||||
Mean radius
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58,232 km (36,184 mi) | ||||||||||||
Equatorial radius
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Polar radius
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Flattening | 96 0.097 | ||||||||||||
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Volume |
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Mass |
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Mean density
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0.687 g/cm3 (0.0248 lb/cu in)(less than water) | ||||||||||||
estimate 0.210 I/MR2 | |||||||||||||
35.5 km/s (22.1 mi/s) | |||||||||||||
Sidereal rotation period
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10.55 hours (10 hr 33 min) |
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Equatorial rotation velocity
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9.87 km/s (6.13 mi/s; 35,500 km/h) | ||||||||||||
26.73° (to orbit) | |||||||||||||
North pole right ascension
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40.589°; 2h 42m 21s | ||||||||||||
North pole declination
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83.537° | ||||||||||||
Albedo | |||||||||||||
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+1.47 to −0.24 | |||||||||||||
14.5″ to 20.1″ (excludes rings) | |||||||||||||
Atmosphere | |||||||||||||
Surface pressure
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140 kPa | ||||||||||||
59.5 km (37.0 mi) | |||||||||||||
Composition by volume |
by volume:
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by volume:
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It is a gas giant with an average radius about nine times that of Earth. It has only one-eighth the average density of Earth, but with its larger volume Saturn is over 95 times more massive. Saturn is named after the Roman god of agriculture; its astronomical symbol (♄) represents the god's sickle.
Saturn's interior is probably composed of a core of iron–nickel and rock (silicon and oxygen compounds). This core is surrounded by a deep layer of metallic hydrogen, an intermediate layer of liquid hydrogen and liquid helium, and finally a gaseous outer layer. Saturn has a pale yellow hue due to ammonia crystals in its upper atmosphere. Electrical current within the metallic hydrogen layer is thought to give rise to Saturn's planetary magnetic field, which is weaker than Earth's, but has a magnetic moment 580 times that of Earth due to Saturn's larger size. Saturn's magnetic field strength is around one-twentieth of Jupiter's. The outer atmosphere is generally bland and lacking in contrast, although long-lived features can appear. Wind speeds on Saturn can reach 1,800 km/h (1,100 mph), higher than on Jupiter, but not as high as those on Neptune.
The planet's most famous feature is its prominent ring system that is composed mostly of ice particles, with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust. At least 62 moons are known to orbit Saturn, of which 53 are officially named. This does not include the hundreds of moonlets in the rings. Titan, Saturn's largest moon, and the second-largest in the Solar System, is larger than the planet Mercury, although less massive, and is the only moon in the Solar System to have a substantial atmosphere.