what do the outer planets have in common? what are the characteristics of each outer planet?
TRANSCRIPT
What Do the Outer Planets Have in Common?
What Are the Characteristics of Each Outer Planet?
LargeGas giants (no
solid surface)
Hydrogen and helium Ices of ammonia and methane Strong gravitational forces (due to their
size) keep these gases from escaping Much of the material in gas planets is
actually liquid because the pressure inside the planet is so high
The outer layers are extremely cold Temperature increases inward with
pressure
All outer planets have many moons
Jupiter: at least 63 Saturn: at least 61 Uranus: at least 27 Neptune: at least 13
All outer planets have rings Thin disks of small particles of ice and rock Saturn’s rings are largest and most
complex
Scientists are constantly discovering new information about these planets and moons (using telescopes and space probes)
Largest and most massive planet
Mass is 2 ½ times more than all of the other planets combined
Thick atmosphere (hydrogen and helium)
Great Red Spot: Storm larger than Earth! Similar to a
hurricane Never ending 20,000 km long and
12,000 km wide
Dense core of rock and iron at its center Pressure is 30 times greater than on the
surface It has a thick mantle of liquid
hydrogen and helium
Jupiter’s largest moon. (Larger than Mercury)
Surface has dark and bright areas
Second largest Less ice Most craters
Not icy May have 300
active volcanoes
Ice Liquid water below the ice (possibly)
2nd largest planetThick atmosphere
(hydrogen and helium)
Made up of chunks of ice and rock going around Saturn
Some are kept in place from gravity of tiny moons
Titan (largest…larger than Mercury) Thick atmosphere (nitrogen and
methane) Some features formed from flowing
liquidMimas and Tethys: craters and
trenchesEnceladus: Ice and water erupt in
geysersPhoebe: ring of material found
4 times diameter of Earth
Looks blue-green due to methane in atmosphere
Rings
The 5 largest moons have icy, cratered surfaces
Tilted at an angle of about 90 degrees from the vertical
The tilt is due to an object hitting Uranus and knocking it on its side
Rotation = 17 hours
Similar to Uranus in size and color
Blue and cold Atmosphere
contains visible clouds
Interior is hot (forming clouds and storms at the surface)
Great Dark Spot (about the size of Earth) Scientists think it
is probably a giant storm that lasted a short period of time
13 moonsTriton (largest)Thin atmosphereNitrogen ice over south pole