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Encyclopedia > Characteristics > Saturn II
CHARACTERISTICS OF SATURN
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Semi-major axis in astronomical units (au) |
9.554909 |
| Semi-major axis in km | 1 429 394 069 |
| Eccentricity of the orbit | 0.05555 |
| Inclination of the orbit on the ecliptic | 2°.4889 |
| Inclination of the equator on the ecliptic | 26°.73 |
| Sidereal period of revolution | 29 years et 166.98 days |
| Rotation period | 10.66 hours |
| Orbital velocity | 10 km/s |
| Apparent equatorial diameter at the smallest distance from the Earth (maximum value) |
20".8 |
| Equatorial diameter (Earth=1) | 9.4335 |
| Equatorial diameter | 120 536 km |
| Visual magnitude at the opposition | 0,67 |
| Flattening | 1/10.2 |
| Volume (Earth=1) | 757 |
| Mass (Sun=1) | 1/3498.77 |
| Mass (Earth=1) | 95.16 |
| Mass Saturn+satellites (Sun=1) | 1/3497.90 |
| Mass Saturn+satellites (Saturn=1) | 1.0002 |
| Density (Earth=1) | 0.125 |
| Density (water=1) | 0.69 |
| Gravity at the surface (Earth=1) | 1.07 |
| Escape velocity | 35 490 m/s |
| Reflectivity (geometric albedo) | 0.47 |
| The highest peak | 8 000 m |
| Deepest pit | 205 000 m |
| Temperature of the clouds | -125°C |
| Atmospheric pressure at cloud level (Earth=1) |
1.4 |
| Atmosphere | hydrogen 97%, helium 3%, traces of methane and other gases |
Above, Saturn as seen by Voyager from a distance of 13 millions of km :note the shadow of the ring on the disk and two small satellites Tethys and Dione.
Click here for an animation
showing the rotation of Saturn.