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Saturn Saturn, symbol {Saturn} in astronomy, is the second largest of the planets in mass and size. Its dimensions are almost equal to those of Jupiter, while its mass is about three times smaller; it has the lowest mean density of any object in the solar system. Both Saturn and Jupiter resemble stellar bodies in that their bulk chemical composition is dominated by the light gas hydrogen. However, Saturns structure and evolutionary history differ significantly from its larger counterpart. Like the other giant planets Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune, Saturn has an extensive satellite and ring system, which may provide clues to its origin and evolution. Saturns dense and extended rings, which lie in its equatorial plane, are currently the most impressive in the solar system. Saturn is the sixth planet in order of distance from the Sun, with an orbital semimajor axis of 1.427 billion kilometres. Its closest approach distance from the Earth is never less than about 1.2 billion kilometres, and thus Earth-based observations of Saturn always show a nearly fully illuminated disk, unlike the Voyager 1 image shown in Figure 22. PRINCIPAL CHARACTERISTICS Like most planets, Saturn has a regular orbit with prograde motion around the Sun and a small eccentricity and inclination to the ecliptic. In this regard, it resembles its inner neighbour Jupiter. Unlike Jupiter, however, Saturn has a substantial obliquity, or inclination of its equatorial plane to its orbital plane, of 26.7o As a result, Saturns rings are presented to Earth-based observers at opening angles ranging from 0o (edge on) to nearly 30o. Saturn has no single rotation period. Cloud motions in its massive upper atmosphere can be used to trace out a variety of rotation periods, with periods as short as about 10 hours, 10 minutes near the equator and increasing with some oscillation to about 30 minutes longer at latitudes higher than 40o. The rotation period of Saturns deep interior can be determined from the