Saturn
Some worlds need no introduction.
How big is Saturn? Saturn is 120,536 km (74,898 miles) across at its equator — 9.45 times wider than Earth — and about 764 Earths could fit inside it. Gravity at the 1-bar level in its atmosphere is 9.0 m/s², 0.92 times Earth’s.
A pale gold giant surrounded by rings of countless icy particles. Saturn is an entire system of worlds, from ring-sculpting moons to hazy Titan and ocean-bearing Enceladus.
Image: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute. Processed mission imagery; apparent color varies with filters and processing.
Saturn quick facts
| Planet type | Gas giant |
|---|---|
| Equatorial diameter | 120,536 km (74,898 mi) |
| Mean radius | 58,232 km (36,184 mi) |
| Size compared with Earth | 9.45× as wide · 763.6× the volume |
| Equatorial circumference | 378,675 km (235,298 mi) |
| Surface area | 4.26 × 10¹⁰ km² |
| Volume | 8.27 × 10¹⁴ km³ |
| Mass | 5.68 × 10²⁶ kg (95.1 Earth masses) |
| Mean density | 687 kg/m³ (0.69 g/cm³) — less dense than water |
| Surface gravity | 9.0 m/s² (0.92× Earth) at 1 bar |
| Escape velocity | 35.5 km/s |
| Length of day (solar) | 10.7 hours |
| Rotation period (sidereal) | 10.7 hours |
| Orbital period (year) | 10,747 Earth days (29.42 Earth years) |
| Mean distance from the Sun | 1,432 million km (889.8 million mi) · 9.57 AU |
| Closest and farthest from the Sun | 1,357.6 – 1,506.5 million km |
| Distance from Earth | 1,205.5 – 1,658.6 million km |
| Sunlight travel time | 1 h 20 min |
| Mean orbital speed | 9.7 km/s |
| Axial tilt | 26.7° |
| Mean temperature | -140 °C at 1 bar |
| Known moons | 274 |
| Ring system | Yes |
Reference: NASA Planetary Fact Sheet. Rounded values; diameters are equatorial, area and volume use the mean radius. Moon counts include discoveries announced through 2025 (such as Uranus’s S/2025 U1) and keep growing as new moons are confirmed.
How big is Saturn compared to Earth?
Saturn’s equatorial diameter of 120,536 km makes it 9.45 times wider than Earth. By volume, about 764 Earths could fit inside it. Its mass is 95.1 times Earth’s, so its average density is remarkably low: 687 kg/m³ (0.69 g/cm³) — less dense than water.
Earth’s equatorial diameter is 12,756 km (7,926 miles). See every planet to scale ↗
What is the gravity on Saturn?
Gravity on Saturn is about 9.0 m/s² at the 1-bar level in its atmosphere: 0.92 times Earth’s 9.8 m/s². Someone who weighs 100 lb on Earth would weigh about 92 lb on Saturn. To escape its pull, a rocket needs 35.5 km/s.
Calculate your weight on Saturn ↗How far is Saturn from the Sun and Earth?
Saturn orbits an average 1,432 million km (889.8 million miles, 9.57 AU) from the Sun, ranging from 1,357.6 to 1,506.5 million km. Sunlight takes 1 h 20 min to get there. Its distance from Earth varies from about 1,205.5 to 1,658.6 million km.
Time sunlight’s journey ↗How long is a day and a year on Saturn?
A solar day on Saturn lasts 10.7 hours, and one spin relative to the stars takes 10.7 hours. A year — one trip around the Sun at 9.7 km/s — lasts 10,747 Earth days (29.42 Earth years). Its axis is tilted 26.7°.
Watch the orbit ↗Is Saturn a gas giant?
Yes. Saturn is a gas giant made mostly of hydrogen and helium. It has no solid surface to stand on, so its “surface” gravity and temperature refer to the 1-bar pressure level in its atmosphere. Jupiter and Saturn are the solar system’s two gas giants.
Meet all eight planets ↗Saturn questions, answered
How big is Saturn compared to Earth?
Saturn is 120,536 km (74,898 miles) wide at its equator, 9.45 times wider than Earth. By volume, about 764 Earths could fit inside it, and its mass is 95.1 times Earth’s.
What is the gravity on Saturn?
Gravity on Saturn is about 9.0 m/s² at the 1-bar level in its atmosphere, or 0.92 times Earth’s. Someone who weighs 100 lb on Earth would weigh about 92 lb there; escape velocity is 35.5 km/s.
What is the mass of Saturn?
Saturn has a mass of about 5.68 × 10²⁶ kg, or 95.1 Earth masses. Its mean density is 687 kg/m³ (0.69 g/cm³) — less dense than water.
How far is Saturn from Earth?
The distance changes as both planets orbit the Sun. Saturn comes within about 1,205.5 million km of Earth and can be as far as 1,658.6 million km away. It orbits 9.57 AU from the Sun on average.
How long is a year on Saturn?
One orbit takes about 10,747 Earth days (29.42 Earth years). A solar day on Saturn lasts 10.7 hours.
Is Saturn a gas giant?
Yes. Saturn is a gas giant made mostly of hydrogen and helium. It has no solid surface to stand on, so its “surface” gravity and temperature refer to the 1-bar pressure level in its atmosphere. Jupiter and Saturn are the solar system’s two gas giants.
What is the density of Saturn?
Saturn’s mean density is 687 kg/m³ (0.69 g/cm³) — less dense than water. Earth’s is 5,514 kg/m³.