Which statement best describes Saturn?

Which statement best describes Saturn?

• A. The sixth planet from the Sun with numerous rings
• B. The sixth planet from the Sun with a thick atmosphere but no rings
• C. A rocky planet with low gravity
• D. The sixth planet from the Sun, with spectacular rings composed mainly of ice and frosted rock

Answer: (D)

Saturn is best understood by its place in the solar system and its distinctive ring system. It is a gas giant with a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium, not a rocky world, and it has a spectacular ring system made primarily of ice particles with some rocky debris. That combination—the sixth planet from the Sun and rings composed mainly of ice—makes the statement the most accurate. Other options either omit the rings, describe Saturn as rocky, or misstate its composition.

Saturn is best understood by its place in the solar system and its distinctive ring system. It is a gas giant with a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium, not a rocky world, and it has a spectacular ring system made primarily of ice particles with some rocky debris. That combination—the sixth planet from the Sun and rings composed mainly of ice—makes the statement the most accurate. Other options either omit the rings, describe Saturn as rocky, or misstate its composition.