Saturn
The Saturnian Orbit
Everyone’s favorite planet, but it already has a ring on it. Nearly 10 times the diameter of Earth, Saturn is so light that you would actually weigh just about the same as you do here at home.
We'd like to give a special thank you to Richard French, FE&C, Wood’s Nursery, Port of Benton, and the City of Richland.
SATURN LOCATION
MID-COLUMBIA ORBIT MAP
*These are satellite photos sourced from NASA's Flickr Commons and are used for educational and informational purposes.
What We Know
Our second largest Solar neighbor is often considered the Jewel of the Solar System because of its beautiful rings. Saturn is the 6th planet from the Sun and can be seen without a telescope, if you know where to look. But to get a glimpse of her beautiful rings, you’ll need a dark sky and a decent telescope. Because Saturn appears to move so slowly across the sky, the Romans named this traveling star after their god of agriculture and farming, perhaps thinking Saturn to be a kind and gentle presence. If you could stand on Saturn’s surface, surprisingly, your weight would be just about the same as on earth. The atmosphere is so full of hydrogen and helium that the density of the planet creates nearly the same gravitational pull as on earth. Next time you’re at a telescope or star party, ask to look at Saturn and see if you can get a nice glimpse of her beautiful rings.
We will have additional information on this planet coming soon.
Last updated September 15, 2023. Content written by Trevor Macduff.
Help Complete the Solar System!
Be a crucial part of the creation of the markers for Mercury, Venus, Mars, and Pluto. We're also embarking on the mission to establish multiple markers within each planet's orbit. So, whether you're eager to volunteer your time, resources, or contribute funding, please visit our Donate and Volunteer pages.
