SATURN    Sixth planet from the Sun 

          Mean distance from Sun:    9.54 AU = 1,427,000,000 KM

          Diameter:                  120,000 KM

          Mass:                      95.15 Earths

          Density:                   0.7 grams / cubic centimeter

          Surface temperature:       -274 F

          Orbital period:            29 years, 168 days
        
        Saturn is perhaps the best known astronomical object by picture.  
        Its beauty in even small telescopes is breathtaking, and larger 
        scopes reveal details in the delicate ring structure and colored 
        bands in the outer layers of the atmosphere.  The rings consist 
        of billions of particles (probably water and methane ice) ranging 
        from a few centimeters to a few meters in diameter.  There are 
        three major ring systems, separated by the Cassini division (outer) 
        and the Encke division (inner).  


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