Outer Planets Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune Gas Giants

Outer Planets Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

Gas Giants Composed mainly of hydrogen and helium Very largestrong gravity Thick atmospheres

Jupiter Characteristics 4 moons IO Europa Ganymede Callisto More moons all larger than Earth’s moon Largest Planet Has ringsnot visible from Earth

Jupiter Atmosphere Thick made mostly of • Hydrogen • Helium • Liquid form because of pressure Great Red Spot • Storm larger than Earth • Hurricanelike Temperature • -459

Jupiter Missions Pioneer 10 1972 flyby Galileo 1995 Probe Misssions Voyager 1 &2 flybys Voyager 1 discovered rings Pioneer 11 1973 -1995 flybys

Saturn Characteristics 2 nd largest planet Rings – made of ice and rock chunks Moon Titan – main one – 4 others

Saturn Atmosphere Very Clouds and storms Made of; Hydrogen & helium Temperature thick -240

Pioneer 11 1979 flyby Cassini/Huygens 1997 Saturn Missions Voyager 2 1981 flyby Voyager 1 1980 flyby

Cassini/Huygens Orbiter Probe

Uranus • Cold • Looks blue-green because of methane • Thin flat rings (ice boulders and dust)

Uranus • Axis is tilted at 90° from vertical • Rotates top to bottom NOT side to side Earth Uranus Theory is : it was hit by object and knocked it on its side Many moons

Uranus Atmosphere • • 83 % hydrogen 17 % helium Clouds Temperature -360°

Uranus Missions • Voyager 2 – 1986 flyby

Neptune Characteristics *Cold, blue *Theory: it’s slowly shrinking interior heats up producing clouds and storms. *13 moons Tritan – largest *Faint rings

Neptune Atmosphere *Clouds *Methane gas absorbs light & gives it blue color *Great Dark Spot Plume cloud

Neptune Mission – Voyager 2 • Flyby 1989