Saturn Facts for Kids

A Picture of the Planet Saturn
  • Planet Name: Saturn
  • Type of Planet: Gas Gaint
  • Solar System Region: Outer Solar System
  • Distance from the Sun: 839,000,000 miles (perihelion) to 934,000,000 miles (aphelion)
  • Time to Orbit Around the Sun: About 10,759 Earth days
  • Moons (natural satellites): 82
  • Total Surface Area: 16.5 billion square miles

25 Saturn Facts for Kids

  1. The planet Saturn formed about 4.5 billion years ago.
  2. The planet Saturn was first observed via a telescope in 1610 by Galileo Galilei.
  3. The planet Saturn is the sixth closest planet to the Sun.
  4. Saturn is in the outer part of our Solar System.
  5. Saturn is a gas giant planet.
  6. Saturn is the second largest planet in our Solar System.
  7. Saturn is 945% the size of Earth.
  8. The radius of the planet Saturn is 36,184 miles.
  9. Saturn’s perihelion (closest) distance to the Sun is 839 million miles.
  10. Saturn’s aphelion (farthest) distance to the Sun is 934 million miles.
  11. It takes Saturn 10,759 Earth days to complete an orbit around the sun.
  12. Saturn has 82 known moons (natural satellites).
  13. Saturn’s moon Dione is one of the four discovered by Giovanni Domenico Cassini.
  14. Saturn’s moon Enceladus is one of the most reflective objects in our Solar System.
  15. Titan is the largest moon that orbits Saturn.
  16. Saturn’s moon Atlas was named after the Greek mythology god Atlas because it “holds the rings on its shoulders” like the Titan Atlas held the sky up above the Earth.
  17. Saturn’s moon Hyperion was the first moon discovered that wasn’t round.
  18. Iapetus is the third largest moon of Saturn and the eleventh largest in our Solar System.
  19. Saturn’s moon Mimas is the smallest astronomical body (246 mile diameter) in our Solar System known to have a round shape because of its own gravity.
  20. Saturn’s moon Pan has the appearance and shape of a ravioli (pasta).
  21. Saturn’s moon Pandora was discovered by NASA’s Voyager 1 probe in 1980.
  22. The planet Saturn has seven rings.
  23. Because Saturn is a gas giant, it’s virtually impossible for life to evolve as we know it.
  24. Saturn’s atmosphere is primarily made up of hydrogen (96%) and helium (3%), the rest is trace elements.
  25. Winds can reach speeds over 1,100 miles per hour in Saturn’s upper atmosphere.

Additional Resources on the Planet Saturn

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