Headings The Earth
and Beyond Planets Search Questions
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The Planets - Saturn.
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun.
The information below is included to let you
know
a little more about the planets in our solar
system.
You will not be expected to
remember this information for the exam.
Saturn spins on its
axis once
in about 10 hours, slightly slower than Jupiter.
The surface temperature of Saturn
is about -180°C.
Saturn
is the second
largest planet.
It is perhaps the most famous
planet in the solar system
because of its distinctive rings (see
picture),
which may be seen through a
small telescope.
Like Jupiter, Saturn is made mainly
from hydrogen and helium
and gives out more heat than it receives from the Sun.
Compression and collision of the gas
is thought to produce the extra
heat.
Saturn
is visible in the
night sky but is less bright than
Jupiter.
It has a weak magnetic field.
Saturn
has at least sixty
moons, perhaps many more.
The largest is called Titan and it is
bigger than the planet Mercury.
(see Summary for further information).
Headings The Earth
and Beyond Planets Search Questions
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