Rotation period (days.hours.min.secs)          6h.9m.12s

Orbital period (days/years)                           247.69y

Orbital speed (miles/km per sec.)                  2.9/4.7

Inclination                                                    17.2 degree

Temperature (F degree/C degree)                 -382/-230

Gravity force (% or X Earth)                         6%

Escape velocity (miles/km per second)         0.75/1.2 

Satellites                     1

Special Features         Smallest planet; orbit crosses Neptune's orbit

This is one of the most dramatic examples in nature of "now you see them, now you don't." The top picture was taken in December of 1994, and shows the rings in their more familiar configuration for Earth observers. The bottom picture was taken shortly before the ring plane crossing. The rings do not disappear completely because the ring edges reflect sunlight. The dark band across the middle of Saturn is the shadow of the rings cast onto the planet. Since the rings are not perfectly aligned with the Sun in this image, a shadow is still visible.