Saturn is home to one of the most fascinating and diverse collections of moons in our solar system. Here's an overview of its most notable moons and key facts:
How Many Moons Does Saturn Have?
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As of now, Saturn has over 140 confirmed moons.
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It surpassed Jupiter in total moon count, with many moons discovered in recent years through telescopic surveys.
Major Moons of Saturn (The “Big 7”)
1. Titan
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Largest Saturn moon, second-largest in the solar system (bigger than Mercury)
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Has a thick atmosphere made mostly of nitrogen
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Features rivers, lakes, and seas of liquid methane and ethane
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Target of future missions like NASA’s Dragonfly rotorcraft
2. Enceladus
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An icy moon with active geysers ejecting water vapor and organic material
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Has a subsurface ocean—one of the best places to search for alien life
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Tiny (about 500 km across) but incredibly reflective and geologically active
3. Mimas
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Nicknamed the “Death Star Moon” due to a massive crater (Herschel Crater)
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Small and heavily cratered
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Despite its quiet surface, may have internal heat or even a subsurface ocean
4. Tethys
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Icy and bright, with a giant canyon system (Ithaca Chasma)
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Low density, suggesting it's mostly water ice
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Orbits close to Enceladus
5. Dione
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Features ice cliffs and wispy surface streaks caused by tectonic activity
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May also harbor a thin subsurface ocean
6. Rhea
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Saturn’s second-largest moon
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May have its own ring system, although this remains unconfirmed
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Surface shows signs of both cratering and tectonic activity
7. Iapetus
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Known for its dramatic color contrast—one side is dark, the other bright
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Has an unusual equatorial ridge, making it look like a walnut
Other Noteworthy Moons
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Hyperion: Sponge-like appearance due to its porous surface and low density
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Phoebe: A retrograde, irregular moon—likely a captured object from the Kuiper Belt
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Pan and Atlas: Tiny “ring shepherds” with strange, UFO-like shapes caused by ring material buildup