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 his 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 produces a magnetic field stronger than that of Earth. Saturn’s magnetic field strength is around one-twentieth the strength 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. There are a number of rings surrounding Saturn, consisting mostly of ice particles with a smaller amount of rocky debris and dust. Seven rings are currently known, with the fainter rings being discovered only recently.
The average distance between Saturn and the Sun is over 1.4 billion kilometers (9 AU).
Saturn takes about 29 years to orbit the Sun.
Saturn has a day that is about 10 hours long.
Saturn’s atmosphere is very cold, with temperatures ranging from -178 degrees Celsius (-289 degrees Fahrenheit) at the equator to -187 degrees Celsius (-306 degrees Fahrenheit) at the poles.
Saturn has a very faint and hard-to-see ring system that was discovered in 1610 by the Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei. The rings are made up of billions of small pieces of ice and rock.