Jupiter vs Saturn: The Gas Giants Compared in 3D
Jupiter and Saturn are the two gas giants, made mostly of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter is the biggest planet, heavier than all the others put together. Saturn is a little smaller, so light for its size that it would float in water, and wears the most spectacular rings in the solar system.
Jupiter vs Saturn: true size
Jupiter vs Saturn at a glance
| Jupiter | Saturn | |
|---|---|---|
| Diameter | 139,820 km, about 11 Earths | 116,460 km, about 9 Earths |
| Mass | About 318 Earths | About 95 Earths |
| Density | 1.33 g/cm³ | 0.69 g/cm³, less than water |
| Rings | Faint and dusty | Bright, wide and made of ice |
| Known moons | Around 95 | More than 270, the most of any planet |
| Biggest moon | Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system | Titan, with a thick atmosphere |
| Day | About 9.9 hours, the shortest of any planet | About 10.7 hours |
| Year | About 12 Earth years | About 29 Earth years |
| Famous storm | The Great Red Spot | A six-sided storm at the north pole |
Saturn’s rings
Saturn’s rings are made of countless pieces of ice and rock, from dust grains to chunks the size of a house. They stretch hundreds of thousands of kilometres across but are mostly only tens of metres thick. Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune have rings too, but they are faint and dark.
Jupiter, the giant
Jupiter is so big that more than 1,300 Earths could fit inside it. Its Great Red Spot is a storm wider than Earth that has been raging for at least 150 years. Its strong gravity helps shape the orbits of asteroids and comets.
Quick facts
- Neither planet has a solid surface to stand on.
- Saturn’s moon Titan has lakes of liquid methane.
- Jupiter’s moon Europa has an ocean under its ice.
- Saturn is the flattest planet, because it spins so fast.
- Jupiter is the third brightest natural object in the night sky after the Moon and Venus.
See them in 3D
Jupiter vs Saturn questions
Which is bigger, Jupiter or Saturn?
Jupiter. It is about 139,820 km across against about 116,460 km for Saturn, and more than three times heavier.
Does Jupiter have rings?
Yes, but they are thin, faint and dusty, unlike Saturn’s bright icy rings.
Could Saturn float in water?
In theory, yes. Its average density is less than water’s, though there is no bath big enough.
Which planet has the most moons?
Saturn, with more than 270 known moons.
What are Saturn’s rings made of?
Mostly water ice, with some rock and dust.
More face-offs: see all 3D comparisons.
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