01.27.2022 Written by Dash

 

Is Saturn just a planet with a ring around it? Keep this question in mind as you read. 

 

Saturn is the sixth planet farthest away from the sun, and it resides in the solar system. Using Astronomical Units, (AU) it’s approximately 9.5 AU away from the sun (1 AU is equivalent to the distance from the centre of the Earth to the centre of the Sun). Saturn is famous for its rings, which are made out of asteroids, dust particles, and ice. The rings surround Saturn’s equator, and it doesn’t seem like they’re moving anytime soon.

 

Something you may not have known about Saturn is that alongside the other planets, he too was named after a Roman god. Specifically, The Roman God of Agriculture and Wealth (A.k.a The father of Jupiter). Although agriculture requires Earth-like grounds, it’s definite that Saturn is a Gas Giant and will always be a Gas Giant. Saturn completes his orbit around the sun in 11 hours.

 

However, one year on Saturn is equal to 29 years on Earth. Saturn has many moons in its orbit, 53 of which have been permanently confirmed and 29 have been temporarily suspected. In light of the fact that Saturn is tilted on its axis at 26.73 degrees, Saturn also experiences seasons, similar to Earth. So, what do you think? Is Saturn just a “ring planet” or is it something more?

 

Citations

NASA. (2021, August 18). In depth. NASA. Retrieved January 13, 2022, from https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/saturn/in-depth/ 

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