1. Outer Planets
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune

2. Composed mainly of hydrogen and helium
Gas Giants
Composed mainly of hydrogen and helium
Very large- strong gravity
Thick atmospheres

3. Jupiter Characteristics
Largest Planet
4 moons IO
Europa
Ganymede
Callisto
More moons all larger than Earth’s moon
Has rings-not visible from Earth

4. Jupiter Atmosphere Thick made mostly of Hydrogen Helium
Liquid form because of pressure
Great Red Spot
Storm larger than Earth
Hurricane-like
Temperature
-459

5. Voyager 1 &2 flybys Voyager 1 discovered rings
Jupiter Missions
Misssions
Pioneer 10
1972 flyby
Pioneer flybys
Voyager 1 &2 flybys Voyager 1 discovered rings
1995 Probe
Galileo

6. Saturn Characteristics
Moon
Titan – main one – 4 others
2nd largest planet
Rings – made of ice and rock chunks

7. Saturn Atmosphere Very thick -240 Clouds and storms Temperature
Made of;
Hydrogen
&
helium
Temperature
-240

8. Cassini/Huygens 1997 Saturn Missions Pioneer 11 flyby 1979 1980 flyby
Voyager 1
Voyager 2
1981
Cassini/Huygens
1997

9. Cassini/Huygens
Orbiter Probe

10. Uranus Cold Looks blue-green because of methane
Thin flat rings (ice boulders and dust)

11. Uranus Earth Uranus Axis is tilted at 90° from vertical
Rotates top to bottom NOT side to side
Uranus
Earth
Theory is : it was hit by object and knocked it on its
side
Many moons

12. Uranus Atmosphere
83 % hydrogen
17 % helium
Clouds
Temperature -360°

13. Uranus Missions
Voyager 2 – 1986 flyby

14. Neptune Characteristics
*Cold, blue *Theory: it’s slowly shrinking interior heats up producing clouds and storms. *13 moons Tritan – largest *Faint rings

15. Neptune Atmosphere
*Clouds *Methane gas absorbs light & gives it blue color *Great Dark Spot Plume cloud

16. Neptune Mission
Voyager 2
Flyby 1989