Animation of a flight through the rings of Saturn. Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun, lying nearly ten times further from it than the Earth orbits. It is the second largest planet in the Solar System, and has the most extensive ring system. The rings are formed of countless small particles, mostly of ice, and extend from less than 7000 kilometres above the equator to more than 120,000 kilometres. They rings are thought to be only a few metres thick.