By John Lindell – Updated Mar 24, 2022
Saturn, the sixth planet from the Sun, remains the farthest planet in our solar system that can be seen with the naked eye. With its iconic ring system and massive size, it offers a fascinating example of planetary science.
Saturn travels around the Sun in an elliptical orbit, meaning its distance varies over the course of a year. On average, it sits about 890 million miles (1.43 billion kilometers) from the Sun. At its farthest point—aphelion—the planet is roughly 934 million miles away, while at its closest—perihelion—it is about 837 million miles distant.
Because of its great distance, Saturn takes a long time to complete one revolution. One Saturnian year lasts approximately 29.5 Earth years, a fact that explains why the planet’s seasons last decades.
The unit most astronomers use to express planetary distances is the astronomical unit (AU). One AU equals the average distance from Earth to the Sun—about 93 million miles. While Earth is 1 AU from the Sun, Saturn is located at about 9.54 AU. The next planet, Uranus, lies at 19.2 AU, more than twice as far from the Sun.
To appreciate how remote Saturn truly is, consider these hypothetical journeys:
Saturn’s great distance from the Sun means it is too cold to support life as we know it. Its composition—a predominantly gaseous envelope surrounding a solid core—makes it a prime target for scientific exploration. Probes such as the Cassini‑Huygens mission, launched in October 1997, did not reach Saturn’s orbit until July 1, 2004, illustrating the challenges of interplanetary travel.
Saturn’s study continues to expand our understanding of planetary formation, ring dynamics, and the broader mechanics of the solar system.
