The Outer Planets Characteristics of the Outer Planets

The Outer Planets

Characteristics of the Outer Planets u Large, mostly gaseous planets u Small, rocky core u Found PAST the asteroid belt u Many moons

Most of the Outer planets are: Large, Gas Giants except Pluto u The Gas Giants…. . and the Inner planets

Jupiter Largest Planet u Atmosphere: Hydrogen and Helium u 16 Moons – (4 Large Moons) (Ganymede, Europa, Callisto, Io ) u Great Red Spot (Huge Storm) u Space Probes: Voyager-Galileo u Thin ring system u Day: 10 hrs u Year: 12 Years u

Jupiter

Saturn u u u u 2 nd Largest Planet Large ring system-ice, rock, dust About 18 Moons (18 -21) Space Probe: Voyager-Cassini Atmosphere: Hydrogen, Helium Titan: Moon with an Atmosphere Day: 10 hours Year: 29. 5 years

Saturn

Uranus About the size of Neptune Discovered by William Herschel 1781 u Atmosphere: hydrogen, helium methane u About 15 Moons u Thin ring system u Rotates on its side u Rocky core u Voyager space probe u Day: 18 hours u Year: 84 years u

Uranus

Neptune A little smaller than Uranus u Methane atmosphere u Last planet seen by Voyager u Rocky core u 8 Moons (Triton) u Thin ring system u Great dark spot u Day: 19 hours u Year: 165 years u

Neptune

Pluto u u u u “Dwarf” Planet Icy/rocky Planetoid 1 Moon-Charon (“double planet”) Thin atmosphere-frozen gases Space probe: New Horizon 2015 Pluto is one of many “Planetoids” Day: About 6 Earth days Year: 248 Earth Years (tilted orbit)

Pluto