Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Named after the Roman god Saturn, its astronomical symbol (?) represents the god’ssickle. Saturn is a gas giant with an average radius about nine times that of Earth.[12][13] While only one-eighth the average density of Earth, with its larger volume Saturn is just over 95 times as massive as Earth.[14][15][16]
Saturn’s interior is probably composed of a core of iron, nickel and rock (silicon and oxygen compounds), surrounded by a deep layer of metallic hydrogen, an intermediate layer of liquid hydrogenand liquid helium and an outer gaseous layer.[17]
The planet exhibits 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 slightly weaker than Earth’s and around one-twentieth the strength of Jupiter’s.[18] 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), faster than on Jupiter, but not as fast as those on Neptune.[19]
- Equatorial radius 60,268 ± 4 km[7][8] 9.4492 Earths
- Polar radius 54,364 ± 10 km[7][8] 8.5521 Earths
- Flattening 0.097 96 ± 0.000 18 Surface area 4.27?1010 km?[8][9] 83.703
- Earths Volums 8.2713?1014 km3[3][8] 763.59 Earths
- Mass 5.6846?1026 kg[3] 95.152 Earths