Saturn (FAQ Form)

This is the FAQ form of Saturn.

Where is Saturn?

Saturn is the 6th planet of the Solar System>

It is circled with red on the image below:

The picture was taken from AASNova.org

How big is Saturn?

Saturn has a radius of 36,183.7 miles (or 58,232 kilometers), Saturn is 9 times wider than the Earth!

How many moons does Saturn have?

Saturn has 82 moons. Fifty-three moons are confirmed and named and another 29 moons are awaiting confirmation of discovery and official naming.

What is Saturn made up of?

Like Jupiter, Saturn is made mostly of hydrogen and helium. At Saturn's center is a dense core of metals like iron and nickel surrounded by rocky material and other compounds solidified by the intense pressure and heat. It is enveloped by liquid metallic hydrogen inside a layer of liquid hydrogen—similar to Jupiter's core but considerably smaller.

It's hard to imagine, but Saturn is the only planet in our solar system whose average density is less than water. The giant gas planet could float in a bathtub if such a colossal thing existed!

Who discovered Saturn?

Saturn was the most distant of the five planets known to the ancients. In 1610, Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei was the first to gaze at Saturn through a telescope.

How did Saturn get it's name?

The farthest planet from Earth discovered by the unaided human eye, Saturn has been known since ancient times. The planet is named for the Roman god of agriculture and wealth, who was also the father of Jupiter.

What does the word "Saturn" mean?

Saturn is named after the god Saturnus (god of agriculture and harvest). Saturn is equivalent to the ancient Greek god Kronos. They decided to make the outermost planet sacred to Kronos, and the Romans did the same.

Does Saturn Have A Nickname?

The most common nickname for Saturn is “The Ringed Planet”, a nickname arising from the large, beautiful, and extensive ring system that encircles the planet. These rings are mostly made from chunks of ice and carbonaceous dust.