THE OUTER PLANETS The Outer Planets The Outer

THE OUTER PLANETS

The Outer Planets � � The Outer planets are the 5 outermost planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, & Pluto

The Gas Giants � The first 4 outer planets are known as the Gas Giants � That’s Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune � � The Gas Giants are much larger than Earth and DO NOT have solid surfaces. Pluto is not a Gas Giant because it has a rocky surface… � So it’s a terrestrial planet!

The Gas Giants � Although they have gas surfaces, the Gas Giants have solid cores made of rock, ice, frozen carbon dioxide (Dry Ice), and other compounds.

Jupiter � � Jupiter is the 5 th planet from the sun. It is the largest planet. � It is more than 300 times larger than Earth!!!!

The Great Red Spot � � � Jupiter’s most prominent feature is the Great Red Spot The area of swirling red clouds that is actually a storm. The Great Red Spot is so big that mulitple Earths can fit in it!

Saturn � � � Saturn is the 6 th planet from the sun It is also the 2 nd largest planet Saturn has a thick atmosphere like Jupiter � Mostly made of hydrogen and helium

Saturn’s Rings � � Saturn is known for its beautiful rings The Rings are made of chunks of ice and rock

Uranus � Uranus is the 7 th planet from the sun � It is TWICE as far from the Sun as Saturn!! � Uranus titled 90 o from the vertical

Neptune � � Neptune is the 8 th planet from the Sun Neptune has a blue atmosphere Neptune was discovered thanks to a mathematical prediction.

Pluto… � � Pluto was the 9 th planet of our Solar System Unlike the other Outer Planets, Pluto is a terrestrial planet

Pluto…is it really a planet? ? � � � Pluto is smaller than the Moon and much smaller than the Earth In 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a Dwarf Planet by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Some scientists still argue that Pluto should still be a planet