Saturn - Next Planet - Back to Planet Walk
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Saturn
This picture of
Saturn is eight times larger than the scale of this model. Courtesy NASA
| The planet Saturn is the 6th planet out from the sun, 887 million miles away from it, and is about 10 times farther from the Sun than is the Earth. Saturn is the 2nd largest planet in the Solar System. Although one third the mass of Jupiter, Saturn is still 100 times more massive than the Earth and has a diameter 10 times that of the Earth.
Another Gas Giant, Saturn is composed primarily of the elements hydrogen (96.3%) and helium (3.25%), as is Jupiter, with trace amounts of methane and ammonia. Saturn is best known for its large, obvious rings. While the rings look continuous from the Earth and in most photos, they are actually composed of many small particles, inches to yards across, and dust. |
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