The second largest planet in the solar system is Saturn. The diameter of the planet measures to about 74,898 miles. That is nine times bigger than the Earth’s diameter. A planet’s diameter is measured from the point of the atmosphere where the pressure is 1 bar. 1 bar is the pressure of Sea Level on Earth.

Much like its contemporary Jupiter, Saturn is made up of mostly hydrogen. In fact, this element composes 96% of the planet whilst the remaining 3% is made up of helium and the remaining 1% would be trace amounts of various other chemicals. Scientists believe that this composition matches the primordial elements that were already present during the formation of our Solar System.

Texts and descriptions are fine and dandy, but to see planet Saturn for what it is is another thing altogether.  Enjoy these pictures of Saturn.    

Mass (kg) : 5.69 x 1026 Diameter (km) : 120660 Mean density (kg/m3) : 690 Escape velocity (m/s) : 35600 Average distance from Sun : 9.537 AU (1,426,725,400 km) Rotation period (length of day in Earth days) : 0.44 (10.2 Earth hours) Revolution period (length of year in Earth years) : 29.46 Obliquity (tilt of axis degrees) : 26.7 Orbit inclination (degrees) : 2.49 Orbit eccentricity (deviation from circular) : 0.056 Mean temperature (K) : 88 K (1 bar level) [...]

1. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest. 2. Saturn was the god of agriculture in Roman mythology. Saturn is also the father of Jupiter, the king of the Roman gods. 3. Saturn is flattened at the poles, due to a fast rotation on its axis. 4. Saturn has 62 known moons, fifty-three have been named. Most of them are small in size. 5. Names of some of Saturn’s moons: the largest is Titan, discovered [...]