Saturn

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Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest. In Roman mythology, Saturn is the god of agriculture.

Known Satellites:
Pan is the innermost of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Pan the god of shepherds and flocks.
Atlas is the second of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Atlas is a Titan condemned to bear the world upon his shoulders as punishment for attempting to storm the heavens.
Prometheus is the third of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Prometheus was a Titan who stole fire from the gods and gave it to humankind.
Pandora is the fourth of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Pandora was the first woman on earth. She was given to Prometheus, bearing a jar which she was not to open. When she did, all evil contained escaped, except for one thing: Hope.
Epimetheus is the fifth of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Epimetheus was the brother of Prometheus and husband of Pandora.
Janus is the sixth of Saturn's known satellites. In Roman mythology Janus was the god of gates and doorways, beginnings and endings.
Mimas is the seventh of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Mimas was a giant, slain by Heracles.
Enceladus is the eighth of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Enceladus was a giant who was killed by a lightning bolt sent by Zeus and buried beneath Mount Etna by Athena.
Tethys is the ninth of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Tethys was the personification of the fertile ocean; wife of Oceanus.
Telesto is the tenth of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Telesto was a sea nymph, a daughter of Oceanus and Tethys.
Calypso is the eleventh of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Calypso was a nymph who held Odysseus prisoner on her island Ogygia for seven years.
Dione is the twelfth of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Dione was the mother of Aphrodite by Zeus, according to some traditions.
Helene is the thirteenth of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Helene was an Amazon who battled with Achilles.
Rhea is the fourteenth of Saturn's known satellites and the second largest. In Greek mythology Rhea was the mother of the gods, sister and wife of Cronus.
Titan is the fifteenth of Saturn's known satellites and the largest. In Greek mythology the Titans were a race of god-like giants, the personifications of the forces of nature.
Hyperion is the sixteenth of Saturn's known satellites. In Greek mythology Hyperion was a Titan, father of the sun-god Helios.
Iapetus is the seventeenth of Saturn's known satellites and the third largest. In Greek mythology Iapetus, a Titan and father of Atlas, Prometheus, and Epimetheus.
Phoebe is the outermost of Saturn's known satellites. Phoebe is almost 4 times more distant from Saturn than its nearest neighbor (Iapetus). In Greek mythology Phoebe is a Titaness, wife of Coeus and mother of Leto and Asteria.

Saturn was the farthest planet from the Sun (and Earth) as known to the Ancients, and he was regarded as the “Greater Malefic”, so it was seen as a very negative influence. Today we regard it a bit more philosophically; in other words, the Reality (Saturn) which we create, goes through cyclical testing phases, to see if what we have built for ourselves is really useful in our lives. Saturn asks: is it practical? is it feasible? have you planned for this? do you really need this? what are your contigency plans for emergencies? Saturn's position shows where you have to face tests and setbacks; there is a need to examine one's motives toward the house affairs, for your past attitude and approach to those house affairs has been incorrect (speaking in terms of past lives).

The natural ruler of Capricorn (and Aquarius to the Ancients), Saturn represents limitations, restrictions, challenges, and the lessons we all must go through. Saturn shows how we discipline ourselves through effort and hard work; it gives clues to type of work we do and the type of obstacles we come up against. It embodies the qualities of responsibility, stability, and conservatism, and is represented by authority figures, a father-figure, a teacher, an older person.

Physically, Saturn rules the bones, teeth, knees, skin, gall bladder, calcium balance, paralysis, and the right ear.

For colors, gemstones, and metals, Capricorn is associated with black, brown, dark green, gray, maroon, and purple; the stone of garnet (once only worn by royalty); and the metal of lead.

Astronomical data:

Mean distance from Sun: 9.54 AU; 1,425,600,000 km
Diameter: 120,000 km (72,000 mi)
Equatorial radius .. 60,268 km
Mass: 95.15 Earths (surface gravity is 17% greater than earth’s)
Density: 0.69 grams per cubic centimeter
Surface temperature: -274 F
Mean cloud temperature: -125°C
Wind speeds: Up to ~400 m/s (30 deg. latitude)
Atmospheric pressure (bars).. 1.4
Atmospheric composition: Molecular hydrogen - 89%; Helium - 11% Minor (ppm): Methane - ~3000; Ammonia - ~200; Ethane - ~2
Aerosols: Ammonia ice, water ice, ammonia hydrosulfide
Orbital speed has a mean of 6 mi/sec
Orbital period: 29 years, 168 days
Mean orbital velocity: 9.67 km/sec
Rotational period 10 hours and 14 minutes
Tilt of axis: 25.33°

Saturn is perhaps the best known and recognized astronomical object by picture. Even though Jupiter, Uranus, and Neptune all have rings, they are feeble and impossible to see from Earth under most circumstances. Saturn's rings, however, have been seen for centuries. They are so bright and broad that even a small telescope can sometimes detect them. 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).

As a planet, Saturn is very much like Jupiter, a gas world made mostly of hydrogen, with helium, ammonia, and methane gases as well. It is the next planet out beyond Jupiter, the sixth planet from the Sun. It has one-third the mass of Jupiter, but almost a hundred times the mass of the Earth, so it is another giant planet.

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