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ORBONIX · SOLAR SYSTEM
SATURN
The sixth planet from the Sun,
famous for its spectacular system
of icy rings and dozens of moons.
THE RINGED GIANT
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun
and the second-largest planet in the
Solar System.
Its spectacular ring system is made
mostly of countless particles of water
ice, rocky material and dust.
Saturn has a very large family of moons.
The seven shown above are among the
most scientifically interesting worlds
orbiting the planet.
Click a moon to explore it individually.
1.43 billion km
AVERAGE DISTANCE FROM SUN
120,536 km
EQUATORIAL DIAMETER
29.4 YEARS
ORBITAL PERIOD
RING SYSTEM
Saturn's rings are made primarily
of water ice particles mixed with
rock and dust. The main rings
extend hundreds of thousands of
kilometres from the planet.
TITAN
Titan is Saturn's largest moon
and has a thick atmosphere.
It is the only moon known to
have stable lakes and seas of
liquid hydrocarbons on its surface.
SATURN, ITS RINGS AND MOONS
Saturn is a hydrogen-and-helium gas giant best known for its enormous ring system. The rings are composed primarily of countless particles of water ice mixed with rocky material and dust, ranging from tiny grains to much larger fragments.
The Saturn system is also scientifically important because of its diverse moons. Titan has a dense atmosphere and lakes and seas of liquid hydrocarbons, while Enceladus ejects water-rich material from an ocean beneath its icy crust. Together, the planet, rings and moons form one of the Solar System's richest environments for planetary research.
PLANET AND MOON IMAGES:
NASA / JPL / CASSINI