1. The Outer Planets

2. The Outer Planets characteristics
The outer planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
They are called the gas giants because they have so much mass compared to the terrestrial planets, and because of that great mass, creating a stronger gravity pull, forbids the gases from escaping , forming deep atmospheres of gases.

3. The Outer Planets characteristics
The composition of their atmosphere is similar to that of the Sun.
They are about 75% hydrogen, 24% helium, and 1% other elements.
None of the giant planets have a solid surface. The deeper the atmosphere the denser it gets.

4. Jupiter
Jupiter is the 5th planet from the Sun and the largest planet in our solar system. All of the other planets would be able to fit inside Jupiter – It’s diameter is 11 times that of Earth’s. Jupiter’s colorful bands and swirls of thick clouds are caused by the different gases that make it up and Jupiter has a “Great Red Spot”, which a giant area of swirling clouds. It appears to be an on-going hurricane.

5. Saturn
Saturn is the 6th planet from the sun and the second largest planet in the solar system. Saturn’s rings made of chunks of rocks and ice travel in their own orbit around saturn and are visible from earth. Like Jupiter, Saturn’s atmosphere is made up of mainly hydrogen and helium. Saturn is the only planet that is less dense than water. That means if we put Saturn in water, it would float!

6. Uranus
Uranus is the 7th planet from the Sun and it is four times the diameter of earth. It is very cold on uranus, it is twice as far from the sun as saturn. Uranus is tilted at about 90o, making it so that the planet is rotating from top to bottom, while the other planets rotate from side to side. Uranus looks bluish because of traces of methane found in the atmosphere.

7. Neptune
Neptune is the 8th planet from the Sun and it is approximately four times the diameter of earth. Neptune was Discovered by a mathematical prediction before it was ever seen. Neptune has 17 times as much mass as the earth. Like the other outer planets, neptune has a thick atmosphere of gases surrounding it and itlooks bluish because of traces of methane found in the atmosphere.