Saturn is the only planet in our solar system that would float on water
Some trivia is so bizarre it forces you to rethink your entire understanding of the world. Check out the fact below, see how others reacted, and scroll down to dive into the verified science and history behind it.
Saturn has an average density of 0.687 grams per cubic centimetre — less dense than water (1 g/cm³). If you could place Saturn in an ocean large enough to hold it, it would float. This is because Saturn is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium gas with a relatively small dense core, giving it the lowest density of any planet. Jupiter, the other gas giant, has a density of 1.33 g/cm³ and would sink. Saturn's low density is also why it appears so large relative to its mass.
Planets feel intuitively heavy and dense — massive objects. Discovering that a planet the size of 764 Earths is actually less dense than the water in your bathtub makes planetary composition feel physically real in a way that size statistics don't.
The Science Behind It
Saturn has an average density of 0.687 grams per cubic centimetre — less dense than water (1 g/cm³). If you could place Saturn in an ocean large enough to hold it, it would float. This is because Saturn is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium gas with a relatively small dense core, giving it the lowest density of any planet. Jupiter, the other gas giant, has a density of 1.33 g/cm³ and would sink. Saturn's low density is also why it appears so large relative to its mass.
Why Your Brain Finds This Hard to Believe
Sources & Verification
OddlyHuman Editors
VerifiedWritten and fact-checked by the OddlyHuman Behavioral Science Team. We verify all psychological, sociological, and historical claims against peer-reviewed journals, primary sources, and established encyclopedias to bring you accurate insights.
Read our Editorial Guidelines →“Saturn is so low-density it would float on water. Average density: 0.687 g/cm³ vs water's 1 g/cm³. It's the only planet in the solar system that would float. 🪐 #OddlyHuman”