SPI 0507.6.1 & SPI 0507.62 The Outer Planets

Learning Target I can distinguish among the planets according to their known characteristics. I can draw conclusions about the planets using graphs.

What do you predict the outer planets have in common?

What are the outer planets? The planets ___________, ___________, ___________, and _____________ are called the outer planets. They are much larger than the inner planets. They rotate very rapidly. Their characteristics include a gaseous atmosphere, a liquid interior, and a small solid core.

What are the outer planets? 1.) All the outer planets have orbiting rings. All four planets are surrounded by a set of rings. These rings are made up of rock, ice, and dust particles that range in size from microscopically small to the size of a house.

Words that I NEED to know… Rotation Revolution Asteroid Moon 2.) A comet is a mixture of rock, frozen gases, and ice that orbits the Sun.

On your post-it note… 1.) Based on the information in the article, which of the following is TRUE? Jupiter is named after the ancient Greek god Zeus. Astronauts have visited Jupiter since the 1970s. Earth is about 1,000 times smaller than Jupiter. A day on Jupiter is much longer than a day on Earth. C

On your post-it note… 2.) Which selection from the article BEST supports the idea that it would be difficult to live on Jupiter? a. Jupiter lies between the main asteroid belt and Saturn. Like the other outer planets, it is much larger and less dense than Earth. b. It consists almost entirely of gases, mainly hydrogen and helium. The planet has no solid surface. c. Surrounding the planet is a system of thin rings, which consist of tiny rocks and dust. They are much smaller and dimmer than Saturn’s rings. d. A year on Jupiter lasts about 12 Earth years. That is because Jupiter is farther from the sun and takes longer to travel around it. B

Jupiter 1,000 Earths could easily fit inside Jupiter. 3.) Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system; it has more mass than all the other planets combined. 4.) Jupiter’s revolution is 4,333 Earth days. (That’s almost 12 Earth years.) Jupiter rotates faster than ANY other planet. Jupiter’s rotation is 9 hours and 56 minutes.

Jupiter Jupiter has over 62 moons. Jupiter’s largest moons- Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa are called the Galliean moons. They are named after Galileo Galilei, who discovered them with his telescope in 1610. Scientists have discovered active volcanoes on Io and they even wonder if their might be life present on Europa.

Jupiter 5.) Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is actually a huge storm. Scientists think the Great Red Spot gets its color from sulfur and phosphorus in the atmosphere. The storm has been blowing continuously for more than 400 years.

Think About It Why are the outer planets called gas planets? Some of Jupiter’s moons are larger than the planet Mercury. Why are these moons considered planets rather than moons? (Think about the definition of a moon.)

On your post-it note… 1.) According to the article, why do scientists think there could be life on Enceladus? a. Water vapor has been observed in the form of clouds on Saturn, which might mean that water exists on its moon, Enceladus. b. Water has been discovered on Enceladus in the form of a frozen ocean, which might mean there could be life if the moon warms up. c. Natural fountains have been observed on Enceladus, which might mean that they are fed by an underground ocean. d. Hydrogen has been discovered on Enceladus, which might mean that the moon has the right environment to support life.

Saturn Saturn is the second largest planet in our solar system. Unlike Earth, Saturn isn’t perfectly round. It is flattened at the poles. This may be because of its rapid rotation. 6.) The most noticeable feature about Saturn is its large set of rings that are made of ice and rock. Some scientists believe the rings are remains of comets that collided.

Saturn 7.) Saturn rotates once every 10 hours and 39 minutes.

Uranus Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun. 8.) Uranus was the first planet scientists discovered using a telescope. It revolves around the Sun once every 84 Earth years.

Uranus 9.) Uranus is the planet that is tilted off its axis the most! Its axis of rotation is tipped so far that it looks like it is rotating on its side. We hypothesize that Uranus collided with another object and that caused it to rotate on its side.

Uranus Uranus has at least 27 moons. Many of the moons’ names, such as Ophelia and Juliet, come from the works of William Shakespeare.

Neptune 10.) The planet farthest from the Sun is Neptune. It takes Neptune 165 years to revolve around the Sun. The light from the Sun is 900 times fainter than it is on Earth.

Neptune 11.) Neptune has some of the strongest winds of any planet in the solar-system- speeds have been recorded at 2,000 kilometers per hour (1,250 miles per hour). 12.) Neptune’s blue color comes from layers of gases that include large amounts of methane. What other planet in our solar system do you predict has high levels of methane in its atmosphere?

Neptune 13.) Triton is a moon of Neptune with characteristics that are similar to Earth. Triton has geysers, and it also has seasons. Triton is just one of Neptune’s 13 moons. It is larger than Pluto.

Dwarf Planets Pluto was once known as the ninth planet. In August 2006, scientist officially reclassified Pluto as a dwarf planet. We’ve found even MORE dwarf planets. In 2005, Eris was discovered, and it is slightly larger than Pluto. We also found Ceres in the asteroid belt.

Dwarf Planets 14.) The new rules for planet-hood contain the following: The object must orbit the Sun. The object must have enough mass and gravity to pull itself into a sphere. The object must have cleared its orbit. Planets clear smaller objects out of their orbits by sucking the small bodies into themselves or flinging them out of orbit. Dwarf planets are unable to clear out their orbits.

Our Solar System

Let’s Review! Jupiter’s four largest moons are known as _____________________. YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! Who is the second largest planet in our solar system? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! Which outer planet takes the longest to orbit the Sun? Why? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! How would you investigate the appearance of Jupiter from Earth? What instrument would you use? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! Why are the outer planets also known as Gas Giants? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! Which planet rotates on its side? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! What is the name of the gas that cause Neptune and Uranus to be blue? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! Which planets have rings? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! Where is the dwarf planet Ceres found in our solar system? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Let’s Review! Who used to be the ninth planet in our solar system? YOU’VE GOT THIS!!

Exit Ticket Use the paper provided to list the planets in order from the Sun. YOU’VE GOT THIS!!