Gas Giants

The four outer planets are: Jupiter Saturn Uranus Neptune

The outer planets are much more massive than the inner planets and do not have solid surfaces. They are often called gas giants. The gas giants are mainly composed of hydrogen and helium. They have a greater gravitational force than the inner planets.

Gravity holds the giant planets’ gases from escaping, so they have thick atmospheres. Despite the name “gas giant”, much of the hydrogen and helium is in liquid form because of extreme pressure inside the planets. The outer layers of the planets are extremely cold because of their distance from the sun.

Asteroid Belt Asteroids are rocky objects that revolve around the sun. They are too small and numerous to be considered planets. The area of the solar system between Mars and Jupiter is where many asteroids exist and is known as the asteroid belt.

Jupiter Is the 5 th planet from the Sun. Diameter: 88,ooo miles Distance from the Sun: 484 million miles

Surface: Dense core of rock and iron thick mantle of liquid hydrogen and helium hydrogen and helium gas in the outer layers Atmosphere: Thick atmosphere made hydrogen and helium Constant storm called The Great Red Spot – similar to a hurricane (no land to weaken)

Jupiter Revolution: 12 years Rotation: 10 hours (fastest rotating planet) Has 63+ moons Has 3 faint rings made up of dust. Average Temperature -234

Saturn 6 th planet from the Sun. Diameter: 75,000 miles Distance from the Sun: 891 million miles

Saturn Surface and atmosphere: Is a ball of gas made of hydrogen and helium Saturn is the only planet whose average density is less than water Revolution: 29 years Rotation: is complicated, but average 10 ½ hours (layers rotate at different speeds)

Saturn Has 60+ moons. Has spectacular rings that are thin like a compact disc and are made up of ice chunks and rocks. Average temperature is -285

Uranus 7 th planet from the Sun. Diameter: 32,000 miles Distance from the Sun: 1.5 billion miles

Surface and Atmosphere: Appears to be blue-green when viewed from space because due to the methane in its atmosphere. Uranus’s axis is tilted at an angle 90 degrees from the vertical. It appears to rotate from top to bottom.

Uranus It has 27 + moons. It has rings made up of ice and dark matter. Revolution: 84 years Rotation: about 17 hours Average Temperature is about -353

Neptune 8 th planet from the sun: Diameter: 31,000 miles Distance from the Sun: 2 ½ billion miles

Neptune Surface and Atmosphere: Neptune is known as the cold, blue planet Its atmosphere is mainly hydrogen and helium with a trace of methane. Methane absorbs all visible light except blue causing the planet to appear bright blue

Neptune Neptune has 13+ moons. Neptune has rings made up of dust particles similar to that of Jupiter Revolution: 164 years Rotation: about 19 hours Average Temperature -330