Saturn
The planet Saturn
Saturn, as seen by Cassini
Designations
AdjectivesSaturnian
SymbolAstronomical symbol for Saturn
Orbital characteristics[1][2]
Epoch J2000
Aphelion1,513,325,783 km
10.115 958 04 AU
Perihelion1,353,572,956 km
9.048 076 35 AU
1,433,449,370 km
9.582 017 20 AU
Eccentricity0.055 723 219
10,832.327 days
29.657 296 yr
378.09 days[3]
9.69 km/s[3]
320.346 750°
Inclination2.485 240°
5.51° to Sun's equator
113.642 811°
336.013 862°
Known satellites~ 200 observed (61 with secure orbits)
Physical characteristics
Equatorial radius
60,268 ± 4 km[4][5]
9.4492 Earths
Polar radius
54,364 ± 10 km[4][5]
8.5521 Earths
Flattening0.097 96 ± 0.000 18
4.27×1010 km²[6][5]
83.703 Earths
Volume8.2713×1014 km³[3][5]
763.59 Earths
Mass5.6846×1026 kg[3]
95.152 Earths
Mean density
0.687 g/cm³[3][5]
(less than water)
8.96 m/s²[3][5]
0.914 g
35.5 km/s[3][5]
0.439 – 0.449 day[7]
(10 h 32 – 47 min)
Equatorial rotation velocity
9.87 km/s[5]
35 500 km/h
26.73°[3]
North pole right ascension
2 h 42 min 21 s
40.589°[4]
North pole declination
83.537°[4]
Albedo0.342 (bond)
0.47 (geom.)[3]
Surface temp. min mean max
1 bar level 134 K[3]
0.1 bar 84 K[3]
+1.2 to -0.24[8]
14.5" — 20.1"[3]
(excludes rings)
Atmosphere[3]
59.5 km
Composition by volume
~96%Hydrogen (H2)
~3%Helium
~0.4%Methane
~0.01%Ammonia
~0.01%Hydrogen deuteride (HD)
0.000 7%Ethane
Ices:
Ammonia
water
ammonium hydrosulfide(NH4SH)
  1. ^ Yeomans, Donald K. (2006-07-13). "HORIZONS System". NASA JPL. Retrieved 2007-08-08. — At the site, go to the "web interface" then select "Ephemeris Type: ELEMENTS", "Target Body: Saturn Barycenter" and "Center: Sun".
  2. ^ Orbital elements refer to the barycenter of the Saturn system, and are the instantaneous osculating values at the precise J2000 epoch. Barycenter quantities are given because, in contrast to the planetary centre, they do not experience appreciable changes on a day-to-day basis from to the motion of the moons.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Williams, Dr. David R. (September 7, 2006). "Saturn Fact Sheet". NASA. Retrieved 2007-07-31.
  4. ^ a b c d Seidelmann, P. Kenneth; Archinal, B. A.; a'Hearn, M. F.; Conrad, A.; Consolmagno, G. J.; Hestroffer, D.; Hilton, J. L.; Krasinsky, G. A.; Neumann, G.; Oberst, J.; Stooke, P.; Tedesco, E. F.; Tholen, D. J.; Thomas, P. C.; Williams, I. P. (2007). "Report of the IAU/IAGWorking Group on cartographic coordinates and rotational elements: 2006". Celestial Mech. Dyn. Astr. 90 (3): 155–180. doi:10.1007/s10569-007-9072-y.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h Refers to the level of 1 bar atmospheric pressure
  6. ^ NASA: Solar System Exploration: Planets: Saturn: Facts & Figures
  7. ^ Than, Ker (September 6, 2007). "Length of Saturn's Day Revised". Space.com. Retrieved 2007-09-06.
  8. ^ Schmude, Richard W Junior (2001). "Wideband photoelectric magnitude measurements of Saturn in 2000". Georgia Journal of Science. Retrieved 2007-10-14.