1. Outer Planets 1st Planet 2nd Planet 3rd Planet 4th Planet
Name/Class: Date:
1st Planet
2nd Planet
3rd Planet
4th Planet

2. Characteristics of the
Outer Planets
The Gas Giants
Characteristics of the
Gas Giants
No solid surface
Comprised of H and He
Have many moons
Have rings comprised of rock and ice
Gas giants contain a lot of liquid

3. Outer Planets
Gas Planets Have Solid Cores
Gaseous hydrogen under pressure turns into liquid hydrogen.
Liquid hydrogen under pressure turns into solid, metallic hydrogen.

4. Outer Planets Jupiter’s Atmosphere
Jupiter: Largest Planet in Solar System
Jupiter’s Atmosphere
Thick with H and He and has ammonia and methane clouds
Great Red Spot = storm > size of Earth
Storm’s winds = similar to hurricane
Storm shows no signs of going away

5. Outer Planets Jupiter’s Structure Jupiter Has Solid Core
Dense core of rock/iron (high pressure)
Mantle of liquid H and He
Atmosphere of gases and clouds

6. Outer Planets Saturn’s Atmosphere & Surface
Saturn Is Second Largest in Solar System
Saturn’s Atmosphere & Surface
Atmosphere is similar to Jupiter’s
Surface is similar to Jupiter’s
Storms on Saturn are similar in type but less violent than Jupiter’s

7. Outer Planets Saturn’s Rings Saturn’s Spectacular Rings
Each ring travels in its own orbit around Saturn
Some rings are kept in place by the gravity of tiny moons that orbit on either side of the ring

8. Outer Planets Uranus Uranus Rotates at 90-Degree Angle
Believed that billions of years ago, Uranus knocked on its side
From Earth, Uranus rotates top to bottom, not side to side
Very cold; twice as far as the sun to Saturn
Blue-green color because of trace amounts of methane in atmosphere

9. Outer Planets
Uranus’ Structure

10. Outer Planets Neptune Neptune Is a Cold, Blue Planet
Blue color comes = methane in the atmosphere
Atmosphere has clouds and storms
Storms do not last long = five years