If you ’ re a Saturnian , it ’ s time to reset your clocks because it ’ s been discovered that a day lasts just 10 hours , 32 minutes and 45 seconds - seven minutes shorter than previously thought . Saturn ’ s rotation period - the time it takes to rotate once around its axis - has been notoriously difficult to estimate in the past because of the planet ’ s unique properties . But using measurements of the ringed planet ’ s gravitational field combined with its shape and density , scientists have determined a more exact value for a day on the planet . Scientists in Israel have revealed a new estimated rotation speed for the ringed planet ( shown ) . Previously it was thought to rotate in 10 hours , 39 minutes and 22 seconds . But new figure of 10 hours , 32 minutes and 45 seconds is more accurate . This is based on measuring its gravitational field , shape and density . The research was carried out by scientists at Tel Aviv University in Israel . Radio measurements by the Voyager spacecraft had estimated Saturn 's day at 10 hours , 39 minutes and 22.4 seconds in the 1980s . In 2006 , astronomers used more advanced equipment to measure the planet 's rotation ending up with a measurement of about 10 hours and 47 minutes . But an estimate that was 12 minutes shorter in 2009 only added to the confusion . Mercury : 58 days and 15 hours . Venus : 243 days . Earth : 23 hours , 56 minutes , 4 seconds . Mars : 24 hours , 39 minutes , 35 seconds . Jupiter : 9.9 hours . Saturn : 10 hours , 32 minutes and 45 seconds . Uranus : 17 hours , 14 minutes and 24 seconds . Neptune : 16 hours , 6 minutes and 36 seconds . The new method , though , provides what might be the most accurate reading so far . Gas giants - such as Saturn and Jupiter - do not have solid objects on their surface that allow their rotation period to be observed , so other methods of finding this property must be found . The same formula came up with the correct rotation period of Jupiter - which was already known owing to its tilted magnetic field . Saturn ’ s magnetic pole is aligned with its rotational axis and this means - unlike Jupiter - its rotation period can not be calculated using the magnetic field alone . But verifying the method with Jupiter allowed scientists to apply the same technique to Saturn . Alternative methods such as measuring Saturn ’ s radio emissions or wind field , or tracking the planet ’ s clouds , had only served to increase uncertainty and resulted in a rotation period of between 10 hours and 32 minutes and 10 hours and 47 minutes . The same method came up with the correct rotation period of Jupiter ( pictured ) - which was already known owing to its tilted magnetic field . Verifying the method with Jupiter allowed scientists to apply the same technique to Saturn and come up with the revised estimate . Scientists used measurements of the ringed planet ’ s gravitational field combined with its shape and density , some of which was gathered by the Cassini spacecraft in orbit ( artist 's illustration shown ) ‘ The alignment of Saturn ’ s magnetic pole with its rotation axis precludes the use of magnetic field measurements to determine its rotation period , ’ said planetary scientist Dr Ravit Helled of Tel Aviv University . ‘ Here we report a period of 10 hours 32 minutes 45 seconds ( plus or minus 46 seconds ) based upon an optimisation approach using Saturn ’ s measured gravitational field and limits on the observed shape and possible internal density profiles . ‘ To validate our method we applied the same procedure to Jupiter and correctly recovered its well-known rotation period. ’ Gas giants - such as Saturn and Jupiter - do not have solid objects on their surface that allow their rotation period to be observed , so other methods of finding this property must be found . The study , published online in Nature , could be used in the future to derive the rotation period of other giant planets and planets outside our solar system .
observations in Israel have revealed new rotation speed for the dwarf planet . Previously it was thought to rotate in 10 hours , 39 minutes and 22 seconds . But new measurements of 10 hours , 32 minutes and 22 seconds is more accurate . This is based on measuring its gravitational field , shape and density . The same method correctly calculated the rotation speed of planets .