Want to know it? When Was Saturn Discovered
By: Want To Know It
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in our solar system. It is classified as a gas giant and is surrounded by rings. But when was Saturn discovered? This article will answer that very question and will also give you three interesting facts about Saturn.
When Was Saturn Discovered?
The short answer to this question is that nobody knows! Saturn was known in prehistoric times, before the ancient Romans and the ancient Greeks. The Roman god Saturnus was the Roman god of agriculture and harvest. The planet was named after this Roman god. So now you know that Saturn was discovered in prehistoric times. But when were its rings discovered?
When Were Saturn’s Rings Discovered?
In 1610, Galileo Galilei looked through his telescope and saw Saturn’s planetary rings, but his telescope was not good enough to properly identify them. In fact, he thought that he was seeing three different planets. In 1612 Saturn’s rings were on the same plane as the Earth so could not be seen, and Galileo was very confused! When they reappeared in 1613 he was even more confused! Using a far more superior telescope, Christiaan Huygens, in 1655, first discovered that Saturn was surrounded by rings. He actually though there was only one ring! Twenty years later Giovanni Domenico Cassini discovered that Saturn actually had multiple rings. In 1859, James Clerk Maxwell hypothesised that the ‘rings’ were all just individual small particles. In other words, he hypothesised that the rings were ‘broken’. Only in 1895 was his theory proven correct. We now know that Saturn is surrounded by mostly ice particles, with some rocks and other debris. Now you know when Saturn’s rings were discovered, let’s look at those three cool facts about Saturn.
Three Interesting Facts about Saturn
Fact 1: Saturn is composed mainly of hydrogen gas (93%), with smaller proportions of helium, ammonia, methane some other gases.
Fact 2: Wind speeds on Saturn can reach an impressive 1900km/h (over 1150mph).
Fact 3: 60 moons have been identified around Saturn, but a few may be large dust clamps which are actually part of the rings.
42 Comments for When Was Saturn Discovered
1. Taylor | January 9th, 2009 at 4:30 am
You guys have some pretty neat and cool facts about Saturn but didn’t Galileo discover Saturn in 1960?
2. Want to know it | January 9th, 2009 at 10:50 am
No, it was 1610 when he saw the rings (which he thought were planets). Galileo lived between 1564 and 1642.
3. Patricia | January 22nd, 2009 at 7:01 pm
your web site has helped me on a science project. Thanks!
4. dylan ledford | February 23rd, 2009 at 9:59 pm
ur web site has helped me with a science project but i have to agree with what the other dude said, galileo discovered saturn in 1610 not in prehistoric times.
5. Want to know it | February 24th, 2009 at 12:49 am
No, Saturn was definitely discovered in prehistoric times. Galileo did not discover Saturn. He only discovered the rings (he already knew the planet existed).
6. joseph | February 27th, 2009 at 2:11 am
so was there a date when Saturn was found?
7. Want to know it | February 27th, 2009 at 2:27 am
No- we just know it was discovered in prehistoric times.
8. krystalin | March 4th, 2009 at 6:55 am
this site was very helpful for a school assessment task thank 4 all your awesome help
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9. Carina | March 6th, 2009 at 12:09 am
Thanks soooo much for telling me when Saturn was discovered!! It helped me writing a science essay!!
10. ashley | March 30th, 2009 at 10:30 pm
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11. jd | March 31st, 2009 at 8:38 pm
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12. TRAVIESA | April 30th, 2009 at 4:03 am
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13. reclil | May 1st, 2009 at 10:57 am
this website is cool it helped me with my project
14. jesus | May 5th, 2009 at 7:46 pm
i love this website it helped me with my final tnk u alooooooot
15. Jessica | May 7th, 2009 at 1:44 pm
this web site helped alot for my friend and my project thanks ttyl omg lol!!!!!!!
16. ESA LADI COOKIE MONSTER | May 14th, 2009 at 4:36 pm
This Helped my Project a whole lot thanks dis is a FIRME website
17. uhkeyme | May 19th, 2009 at 4:29 pm
thanks this didnt really help me and galleio discovered it in 1610 thank u very much this is the first website i went to that said it was discovered in prehistoric times
18. Want to know it | May 19th, 2009 at 11:33 pm
As I have said about 3 times, Galileo only discovered Saturn’s rings. The planet “must have been known since prehistoric times” as it is “easily visible to the naked eye”. See- http://www.nmm.ac.uk/gcse-astronomy/solar-system/saturn/
19. brandy | May 31st, 2009 at 7:50 pm
thanks like alot!!!! i wrote an entire paper with this info=)
20. danay | June 1st, 2009 at 11:43 am
that saturn is an amazing place to learn about.
21. beast18 | September 15th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
Saturn is the bomb!!!!!!!!!!!
22. thao | November 12th, 2009 at 1:14 am
thank you this article helped me alot
23. lelo | December 8th, 2009 at 12:25 am
thank you
24. dark lord voldemort | January 18th, 2010 at 8:05 pm
This helped me with my science project a lot, but is there any proof that Saturn was discovered in prehistoric times?
Thanks
25. Want to know it | January 19th, 2010 at 1:10 am
Lots of proof, including:
1. It can be seen with the naked eye.
2. It was mentioned in the writings of many ancient cultures (Chinese and Japanese).
3. It is mentioned in many mythologies (Roman and Greek).
26. kakko | February 28th, 2010 at 7:05 pm
Thanks this helps im writing a paper right now on saturn…..its due tomorrow
27. Jack | March 16th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
thanks so much u helped me with my report on saturn…..its due friday
28. amelia | April 7th, 2010 at 9:40 pm
thanks so much i needed to finish my project and i needed to know the date when it was fond thanks super much!!!!
XOXO,
*amelia yourcheck*
29. Denesha | April 26th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
thanks but do you think that you can add more to your subjects on Saturn it be great for people who have to make brochures on this type of subject
30. J.C | May 3rd, 2010 at 10:40 am
Thanks I am doing a project and it’s due next week!!!!!!
31. kizz | May 14th, 2010 at 9:33 am
this website is the best could u tell me the names of the rings around saturn
32. Want to know it | May 15th, 2010 at 1:46 am
Sure Kizz. In order from the ring closest to the ring furthest from the planet the names are:
D, C, B, A, F, G, E
Pretty boring names aren’t they!
33. Daniel | May 19th, 2010 at 7:24 am
Thx 4 giving me sooooooo much info ive got a project due in 2 days
34. jjj | May 25th, 2010 at 12:08 am
thnxxxx I have an essay due
35. derek | September 8th, 2010 at 12:57 am
thnx i have a science project!!!!!!!!
36. deven | October 4th, 2010 at 7:48 pm
Ty i like your site but i want to know … what is saturn made of????
37. Want to know it | October 5th, 2010 at 12:27 am
Deven,
No one really knows for sure what Saturn is made of. It is believed that is has a rocky core surrounded by hydrogen and helium.
38. pat | October 6th, 2010 at 2:41 pm
thanks helped alot for my project
39. ?carebear? | October 30th, 2010 at 5:09 pm
thiz is a very helpful site it really helped
me w/ a school assignment..
40. katarina | December 1st, 2010 at 6:43 am
i hope it helps me with my project
41. lizzy | December 4th, 2010 at 3:44 am
your facts about saturn helped me finish my science project!!
42. zaira | January 16th, 2011 at 6:55 am
thanks so much i needed for science brochure due tmo
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