The second largest planet in our solar system, Saturn ...........Part II

Owing to its fast rotational speed of 6,200 mph (9,977.9 kmph), Saturn bulges out at the equator, and flattens out at the poles, giving it an oblate shape.

Saturn doesn’t have a solid surface. A giant gaseous planet, it is mostly composed of hydrogen and helium, with small traces of methane, ammonia, acetylene, ethane, propane and phosphine.

The planet is believed to have a small, rocky core, surrounded by thick liquid metallic hydrogen layer and then another liquid layer of helium-filled molecular hydrogen. This layer slowly transforms into gas as altitude increases.Since it is mostly made of gas, Saturn is the least dense planet in our solar system. So, if there was a swimming pool big enough to hold all the planets, Saturn would float on water. In comparison, Earth and Mercury would sink the fastest.

One of the windiest planets, the wind speed around Saturn’s equator can go up to 1,118 mph (1,800 kmph). Compare that to Earth’s mightiest winds, which can attain a maximum speed of 250 mph (400 kmph).

The planet has 53 marked moons, along with nine more which are awaiting confirmation of discovery. Its largest natural satellite is the Titan, which is larger than the planet Mercury. Only Jupiter has more moons (63) than Saturn.

While Saturn itself might not be able to support life, its Titan and Enceladus moons might be able to provide a favorable habitat for microbial life, as inferred by scientist after studying their chemical compositions.

Along with Mercury, Venus, Mars and Jupiter, Saturn is one of the five planets which you can see with t he naked eye. However, to observe its rings, you need to use a telescope.

Cooler than most other planets, Saturn has an average temperature of -350° F (-212° C). The coldest temperature ever recorded on Earth is -129° F (-89° C).

In 1610, Italian astronomer and physicist Galileo Galilei was the first to see Saturn through a telescope. Seeing the rings, he thought that they were the “ears,” or “handles” of the planet, or probably its moons

 Since Saturn spins on a tilt, it has seasons. The summers on the planet last for nearly eight Earth years.

The planet is known for its incredibly high atmospheric pressure – strong enough to squeeze gas into liquid. No human spacecraft created to date would be able to withstand such pressure.

The planet was named after the Roman god of farming, Saturn (illustrated), and is denoted by the god’s tool, a sickle.

It has 1.1 times more gravitational pull than Earth. For example, if an athlete jumps 10 ft (3 meters) in the air here, he will be able to make it to a maximum height of 9.4 ft (2.8 meters) on Saturn.