Outer PlanetsOuter Planets

Complete Section 3 Study GuideComplete Section 3 Study Guide

Outer PlanetsOuter Planets

JupiterJupiter SaturnSaturn UranusUranus NeptuneNeptune ?Pluto??Pluto?

““Gas Giants”Gas Giants” Larger planets than Larger planets than

the inner planetsthe inner planets Exert more gravityExert more gravity

JupiterJupiter

Jupiter is the largest Jupiter is the largest planet (317.83 x Earth)planet (317.83 x Earth)

Has a thick atmosphere Has a thick atmosphere of 90% hydrogen & 10% of 90% hydrogen & 10% heliumhelium

8 space probes8 space probes Average temp is -108°CAverage temp is -108°C

Jupiter’s Red SpotJupiter’s Red Spot

The Great Red Spot, The Great Red Spot, a huge storm of a huge storm of swirling gas that has swirling gas that has lasted for 350 years.lasted for 350 years.

Jupiter does not have Jupiter does not have a solid surface. The a solid surface. The planet is a ball of planet is a ball of liquid surrounded by liquid surrounded by gas.gas.

Moons of JupiterMoons of Jupiter

• Jupiter has 63 moons total and 4 large Jupiter has 63 moons total and 4 large Galilean moonsGalilean moons• IoIo• EuropaEuropa• GanymedeGanymede• CallistoCallisto

IoIo

Io is the fifth moon of Io is the fifth moon of Jupiter. It’s the third Jupiter. It’s the third largest of Jupiter’s largest of Jupiter’s moons.moons.

Io has hundreds of Io has hundreds of volcanic calderas. volcanic calderas. Some of the volcanoes Some of the volcanoes are active.are active.

SaturnSaturn Saturn is the second largest planetSaturn is the second largest planet The atmosphere is 90% hydrogen & 10% heliumThe atmosphere is 90% hydrogen & 10% helium It is the least dense planet (float in water!)It is the least dense planet (float in water!) Below the atmosphere is liquid H & HEBelow the atmosphere is liquid H & HE Over 60 moonsOver 60 moons 4 space probes4 space probes

Rings of SaturnRings of Saturn

Saturn’s rings are Saturn’s rings are composed of small composed of small countless ice & dust countless ice & dust particles.particles.

The rings are very The rings are very thin. Though they’re thin. Though they’re 250,000km or more in 250,000km or more in diameter, they’re less diameter, they’re less than one kilometer than one kilometer thick.thick.

UranusUranus Uranus rotates on a 90° Uranus rotates on a 90° tilt so it rotates from top tilt so it rotates from top to bottomto bottom

Uranus is blue-green Uranus is blue-green because of the methane because of the methane in its atmospherein its atmosphere

Is 4 x bigger than Earth.Is 4 x bigger than Earth. Composed of hydrogen, Composed of hydrogen,

helium & methanehelium & methane 42 years of sunlight, 42 42 years of sunlight, 42

years of darknessyears of darkness 27 moons27 moons Voyager II space probeVoyager II space probe

NeptuneNeptune Neptune’s atmosphere Neptune’s atmosphere

contains clouds.contains clouds. 44thth largest planet but most largest planet but most

densedense Takes 165 Earth years to Takes 165 Earth years to

revolve around sunrevolve around sun Mostly H, He, & Methane Mostly H, He, & Methane

gasgas 14 moons14 moons Core is metal with a Core is metal with a

mantle of ammonia & mantle of ammonia & methane icemethane ice

1 space probe by 1 space probe by Voyager IIVoyager II

PlutoPluto

Pluto is now Pluto is now considered a dwarf considered a dwarf planetplanet

Pluto is the only outer Pluto is the only outer planet that is rockyplanet that is rocky

Smaller than our Smaller than our moonmoon

CometsComets

Comets are chunks Comets are chunks of ice & dust with a of ice & dust with a long narrow long narrow elliptical orbitelliptical orbit

They have a They have a nucleus and a tailnucleus and a tail

AsteroidsAsteroids

Asteroids are small Asteroids are small objects that rotate objects that rotate around the sunaround the sun

An asteroid belt An asteroid belt separates Mars separates Mars and Jupiterand Jupiter

MeteorsMeteors

A meteoroid is a chunk of A meteoroid is a chunk of rock that usually comes rock that usually comes from a comet or asteroidfrom a comet or asteroid

It is called a meteor when It is called a meteor when it reaches Earth’s it reaches Earth’s atmosphere and burns upatmosphere and burns up

It is called a meteorite if it It is called a meteorite if it strikes Earth’s surfacestrikes Earth’s surface

Meteor Crater in Arizona