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 is known for its beautiful ring system, which is made up of ice, rocks, and dust particles.
Rings: Saturn's rings are made up of billions of ice particles, ranging in size from tiny grains to huge chunks. They are divided into several main rings, named from the innermost D ring to the outermost A ring.
Moons: Saturn has at least 82 moons, with the largest being Titan, which is even larger than the planetMercury.
Exploration
Several spacecraft have explored Saturn, including the Voyager 1 and 2 missions, which provided detailed images of the planet and its moons. The Cassini-Huygens mission, a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency, and the Italian Space Agency, orbited Saturn from 2004 to 2017, providing valuable data and stunning images of the planet and its moons.
Interesting Facts
Saturn is named after the Roman god of agriculture.
Its beautiful rings are what make Saturn the most recognizable planet in our Solar System.
Saturn's density is low enough that the planet would float in water if a body of water large enough to hold it were found.
The hexagonal storm on Saturn's north pole, discovered by the Cassini mission, is a unique atmospheric feature in the Solar System.
Study Guide
Here are some questions to help you study and understand the topic of Saturn: