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How strong is gravity on Saturn compared with gravity on Earth?
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Saturn
Saturn and its spectacular rings, in a natural-color composite of 126 images taken by the Cassini spacecraft on October 6, 2004. The view is directed toward Saturn's southern hemisphere, which is tipped toward the Sun. Shadows cast by the rings are visible against the bluish northern hemisphere, while the planet's shadow is projected on the rings to the left.
Because the giant planets like Saturn lack a solid surface, gravity is measured at the level where one bar of atmospheric pressure is exerted. Due to the planet's rapid rotation and oblate shape, gravity varies significantly between its poles and its equator.12
- Equatorial Gravity: Saturnās equatorial gravity is 896 cm/secĀ² (29.4 feet/secĀ²).1
- Polar Gravity: Saturnās polar gravity is 1,214 cm/secĀ².1
In comparison, Earthās surface gravity is approximately 980 cm/secĀ² (32.2 feet/secĀ²). Consequently, while Saturn is 95 times as massive as Earth, its equatorial gravity is actually slightly lower than that of Earth, while its polar gravity is stronger. The planet's oblate shape is a result of its rapid rotation, which generates an acceleration that cancels out a larger fraction of the planet's gravity at the equator than at the poles.21