Table of Contents
How many moons does Saturn have? A total of 82 confirmed moons, transcending even Jupiter, which has 79. There could be even extra unknown moons that orbit nearby Saturn, and as such, this gas giant will be from now on not only identified for its prominent rings but also its various moons.
Some moons of this planet are amid the greatest under the Solar System, similar to Titan, for instance, which is bigger than even the planet Mercury. Others are smaller than our Moon, nevertheless, they have different characteristics. As such, take a look at the top five biggest moons of Saturn, known as Rhea, Titan, Dione, Iapetus, and Tethys.
How many moons does Saturn have?
Titan
Aside from being the 2nd biggest moon in the Solar System, and the biggest moon of Saturn, Titan is the only celestial object besides our planet, where permanent bodies of surface liquid have been discovered.
Titan is 50 percent higher in width compare to the planet Mercury, containing a diameter of 5,149 km / 3,199 mi, and a radius of 2,574 km / 1,599 mi. Titan is the 6th gravitationally curved moon of Saturn, and it is usually defined as a planet-like moon.
Rhea
Rhea is the 2nd biggest moon of Saturn after Titan, and overall the 9th biggest moon in the Solar System. It is larger than the dwarf planets Makemake and Ceres.
Rhea has a width of around 1,527 km / 948 mi and a radius of 763 km / 474 mi. It is higher than 2 times less than our Moon. Rhea is also considered the 2nd least celestial object in the Solar System for which accurate measurements have established a shape consistent with hydrostatic equilibrium, after the dwarf planet Ceres.
Iapetus
Iapetus is the 3rd biggest moon of Saturn and the 11th biggest moon in the Solar System. It is larger than the dwarf planets Makemake and Ceres.
Iapetus owns a width of 1,469 km / 912 mi, and a radius of 734 km / 456 mi. This moon was found in 1671 by Italian astronomer G.D. Cassini. The moon is pretty simply recognizable due to its unusual 2 toned surface.
Dione
Dione is one of the biggest inner moons of Saturn, and it was found in 1684 by Italian astronomer G.D. Cassini. Dione is the 15th biggest moon in the Solar System, and it has a diameter of around 1,122 km / 697 mi and a radius of 561 km / 348 mi.
Despite being the 15th biggest moon in the Solar System, Dione is more extra massive (weight) than all the different smaller moons combined. Dione’s mass is two-thirds water ice, and the dwelling is associated with a silicate rock’s inner core. A few data suggest that Dione might have an internal fluid saltwater ocean, same as Enceladus.
Tethys
Tethys is a different moon found by G.D. Cassini in 1684. It has the smallest density of all the main moons in the Solar System. This moon is largest than the dwarf planet Ceres, having a width of 1,062 km / 659 mi, and a radius of 531 km/329 mi.
Tethys is essentially made out of water ice and a very little fraction of rock. A little amount of unknown dark material is also present on its surface.
How old is Saturn?
Saturn was built at the very time as the rest of the Solar System, from a huge spinning disk of gas and dirt. Astronomers believe that total occurred about 4.6 billion years ago, so Saturn is around 4.6 billion years old.
Saturn is the 6th asteroid in our Solar System from the Sun. It is around 886 million miles (~1.43 billion km) from the Sun and nearly 793 million miles (~1.3 billion km) from Earth. Saturn is nearly 9.5 times more distant from the Sun than Earth is. Saturn is about double as far from the Sun as Jupiter, the fifth planet, is. Specifically where it is at any one time depends on where it is in its orbit.
FAQs
Is Titan bigger than Earth?
Titan is the biggest of Saturn’s 82 moons and the 2nd biggest moon in the solar system following Jupiter’s Ganymede. Titan’s radius is around 1,600 miles making it smaller than half the area of Earth (3,963 miles) but greater than the Earth’s moon (1,079.6 miles).
Can we live on Saturn’s moons?
There is a different place in our solar system where circumstances are appropriate for a self-sustaining, long-term human arrangement: Saturn’s moon Titan. This moon is the only place in the solar system, after Earth, with steady surface fluids. Titan owns seas and lakes on its surface.
If I stood on Saturn would I sink?
The outside part of Saturn is composed of gas and the right top films have about the very pressure as the air does on Earth. So, if you attempted to walk on this section of Saturn, you would sink through its environment. Its environment is very thick and its force expands the deeper you go. After a while, you would end sinking and perversely be mashed by the high pressure deeper in its environment.
What is Saturn made of?
Saturn is not hard like Earth but is rather a large gas planet. It is a mixture of 94 percent hydrogen, 6 percent helium, and a few amounts of methane and ammonia. Hydrogen and helium are what most maximum stars are made of. It is considered that there might be a seething, stone core about the area of Earth deep within Saturn.
How did Saturn get its name?
The Romans grasped 7 bright things in the sky: the Moon, the Sun, and the 5 brightest planets. They called them after their most significant gods. Saturn was identified as the Roman god of farming. According to lore, Saturn preceded agriculture to his people by educating them on how to farm the land. It was also the Roman lord of time and this is possibly why the slowest (in orbit around the Sun) of the 5 bright planets was called after him. In the Roman faith, it was the father of Jupiter. Saturday is also called back the Roman lord Saturn (Saturn’s Day).
Conclusion
Saturn owns 82 moons. 53 moons are fortified and defined and the other 29 moons are expecting recognition of discovery and official classification. Saturn’s moon’s area in size bigger than the planet Mercury – the giant moon Titan – to as tiny as a sports arena. The moons form, contribute, and also accumulate minerals from Saturn’s rings and magnetosphere.