Interesting Facts About Planet Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest planet in our solar system. It is a gas giant with an average radius of nine times that of Earth. It is only 1/8 of the density of the Earth but because it has a larger volume, it is about 95 times more massive. Its distance from the Sun is 1.4 billion kilometers. It is mostly made up of hydrogen and is the densest planet in our solar system. It is the only planet that can float on water. One day takes Saturn just 10.7 hours and it makes a complete orbit around the sun in about 29.4 Earth years which is 10,756 Earth days. Its atmosphere has traces of ammonia, phosphine, water vapor, and hydrocarbon giving it a pale-yellow color. Titan is its largest moon. It is the second-largest natural satellite in our solar system. Jupiter's moon Ganymede is larger by just 2% which makes Ganymede the largest natural satellite in our solar system. Titan is bigger than Earth's moon and also bigger than Mercury. At the core of Saturn, the temperature is at least 15,000 degrees Fahrenheit that is much hotter than the surface of the sun. The rings of Saturn are made up of ice, dust, and rocks. Because of its rings, it is known as the most beautiful planet in our solar system. It is called the king of moons this is because Saturn has 82 moons. It had 62 moons before which made Jupiter the planet having the highest number of moons as Jupiter had 79 moons. But after some time, scientists discovered 20 more moons making Saturn the king of moons. The word 'Saturn' comes from the name of the ancient god 'Saturnus', God of wealth and agriculture. Galileo Galilei discovered the planet Saturn. In 1610, Italian astronomer, Galileo Galilei became the first to gaze at Saturn through a telescope. Do you know that 'Saturday' got its name from the word 'Saturn'? The Babylonians named the days after the five planetary bodies known to them (Tuesday to Saturday) and after the sun and moon ( Sunday and Monday ). This custom was later adopted by the Romans. And that's how Saturday got its name from Saturn.So, these were all interesting facts about Saturn.

By: Utkarsh Garg

Sri Venkateshwar International School