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Saturn: Location and Orbit
Facts in Brief
| Aphelion | 1.51450 x 109 km |
| Perihelion | 1.35255 x 109 km |
| Minimum Distance from Earth | 1.1955 x 109 km |
| Rotational Period (Day) | 0.4440 Days (10.656 Hours) |
| Orbital Period (Year) | 29.43 Years* (10,750 Days) * The approximation of 365.256 days per year is used. |
| Orbital Inclination | 2.5o |
| Eccentricity | 0.06 |
| Axial Tilt | 26o44" |
Relative Location
As a superior planet, Saturn’s orbit lies outside the Earth’s. The sixth planet from the sun, Saturn barely comes within 1.2 billion kilometers of Earth and 1.35 billion kilometers of the Sun. Due to this distance, it is the second-farthest planet that can be seen by the naked eye, and the farthest planet that can be regularly and easily observed. Saturn, along with Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, and Jupiter, was one of the five planets known to the ancient world.Seeing Saturn from Earth
As “the showcase of the solar system,” Saturn repays the effort spent in finding it. Many amateurs describe their first sight of Saturn’s
rings as the most rewarding sight in their careers. It is the farthest planet that may reliably be seen by the naked eye. The majestic ring system is clearly visible through a small telescope, magnitude 50x and upwards. Saturn appears a golden orb enclosed within a clearly-defined and glowing ring. With a strong telescope, the larger ring divisions are visible. It is best to consult a celestial almanac to determine when the rings are at the best alignment. For instance, if they are edge-on to Earth, the rings will merely appear a disappointing thin line. It wasn’t until 1655 that these rings were discovered; Galileo observed them in his telescope but thought that they were two moons orbiting opposite the planet. Huygens was the first to accurately see them.Orbit
Saturn’s orbit is fairly irregular, 0.06 from the circular. About 202 million kilometers separate its perihelion and aphelion, the points nearest and farthest from the sun—a considerable distance.A day on Saturn is less than half that of a day on Earth, and a year is about thirty times longer. That comes to more than 24,232 Saturnian days in the Saturnian year. More interesting to most than Saturn’s orbit are the things that orbit around it: its moons and rings.