THE OUTER PLANETS Jovian Planets O 5 planets

THE OUTER PLANETS

Jovian Planets O 5 planets farthest from sun O Also known as the outer planets O Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

Makeup O Larger and more massive than inner planets but less dense O Thick atmospheres of hydrogen and helium gas O Probably a core of rock, metals and water

JUPITER O Fifth planet from sun O One orbit of the sun is almost 12 Earth years O Rotates on it’s axis is faster than any other planet- once every 9 hours and 50 minutes O Has at least 16 moons and one ring O STRUCTURE/SURFACE- liquid metallic core surrounded by lighter elements O Surface of planet is not solid but mixture of hot gases and liquids O Alternating bands of light and dark colors due to gases in atmosphere O ATMOSPHERE- Suggested atmosphere of ammonia, methane and water vapor O Rapid rotation causes gases to swirl O Average temperature is -160 C

Saturn O Sixth planet from sun- 1, 427, 000 km O Second largest planet in solar system O Orbit around the sun is period is 29. 5 days O Rotates very rapidly on axis every 10 hours and 40 minutes O Has at least 20 moons and several rings O Titan is the largest moon; bigger than Mercury O STRUCTURE/SURFACE- Probably small, rocky core, interior of liquid metallic hydrogen O Has bands of color O Less dense than any other planet in solar system (less than water) O ATMOSPHERE- probably dense atmosphere of hydrogen and helium O Average temperature of -176 C to -185 C (-301 F)

Uranus O Seventh planet from sun O Third largest in solar system O Orbit period is 84 Earth years O Rotates about every 17 hours and 14 minutes O Unique feature- rotates like a rolling ball; axis is almost horizontal to plane of orbit O Has at least 15 moons and at least 11 small rings O STRUCTURE/SURFACE- Thought that center is core of rock and metals w/ temperature of 7000 C O ATMOSPHERE- greenish color indicates presence of methane O Average temperature of clouds is -215 C (-355) but surface temperature is believed to be much higher O May be mixture of liquid water and methane below atmosphere

NEPTUNE O Eighth planet from sun O Similar to Uranus in size O Orbit period is 165 Earth years O Rotates on its axis about every 16 hours and 6 minutes O Has eight moons and possibly four rings O Names after Roman god of the sea O ATMOSPHERE- Upper atmosphere composed of white clouds of frozen methane; appear as changing bands O Has very active weather system O “Great Dark Spot” storm system seen on Neptune’s surface O Average temperature is about -225 C (-320 F)