Saturnlike

Saturnlike is an informal descriptive term used in astronomy to denote objects that resemble Saturn in one or more defining aspects. Most often it refers to gas giant planets that possess prominent ring systems, analogous to Saturn’s iconic rings, but the term can also be used for bodies with Saturn-like bulk properties or internal structure. It is not a formal taxonomic category but a comparative descriptor.

In the context of ringed planets, Saturnlike implies an extensive ring system composed of ice and rocky debris surrounding a gas giant with a substantial hydrogen–helium envelope. Ring systems vary in size, brightness, and particle composition; Saturn's rings remain the best-studied example, but other planets—within and beyond the Solar System—may be described as Saturnlike when rings dominate their appearance or dynamics.

For exoplanets, Saturnlike planets are of particular interest for studying ring formation, dynamical stability, and the observational consequences of rings for transit photometry and direct imaging. Detecting rings around exoplanets is difficult, and claims of Saturnlike rings typically rely on indirect signatures or high-precision data.

The term is informal and usage can differ among researchers. Saturnlike objects serve as a convenient shorthand for discussing Saturn’s distinctive features when comparing planetary systems, both our own and extrasolar.