the gas giants
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The gas giants. Pg. 35. Jupiter. Largest planet (5 th from Sun) 11 times larger than Earth (makes up 70 % of planetary matter) Has a banded appearance due to atmosphere Has 4 major satellites and at least 12 minor ones Composed of light weight elements - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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THE GAS GIANTSPg. 35
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Jupiter
Largest planet (5th from Sun) 11 times larger than Earth (makes up 70 % of
planetary matter) Has a banded appearance due to atmosphere Has 4 major satellites and at least 12 minor
ones Composed of light weight elements Atmosphere- H and He in both gas and liquid
form; has liquid metallic H; electric currents Earth-sized core of heavier elements that have
sunk.
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Jupiter Cont’d
Spins fast (1 rotation= 10 hrs) Shape is distorted because of fast spin Has “Great Red Spot” which is a
atmospheric storm that has been rotating around Jupiter for more than 300 years
Alternating cloud types Belts- low, warm, dark-colored clouds that sink Zones- high, cool, light-colored clouds that
rise
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Jupiter’s Moons and Rings
4 largest moons called satellites: Io Europa Ganymede Callisto
Composed of ice and rock mixtures Jupiter’s ring is 6400 km wide
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Saturn Second largest planet Atmosphere- rotates rapidly and has belts
and zones; H and He and also ammonia ice
Most likely fluid throughout with small solid core
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Saturn’s moons Rings are composed of rock and ice
(microscopic to size of houses) 7 major rings that are each made up of
ringlets 18 known satellites
Titan (giant) 7 intermediate moons 10 small moons
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Uranus Discovered accidently Has blue, velvety appearance Atmosphere- methane gas (reflects blue
light), H and He; few clouds Completely fluid except small core Axis is almost horizontal (Uranus was
knocked sideways) Each pole spends 42 years in darkness
and 42 years in sunlight
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Uranus’ Moons and Rings 18 known moons and rings Recently 3 more possible moons have
been discovered Rings are very dark, almost black Were discovered when a star was covered
by them
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Neptune Few details can be observed from Earth
because of its distance away Atmosphere- bluish color because of
methane; has distinctive clouds Had a persistent storm called the Great
Dark Spot that disappeared in 1994
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Neptune’s Moons and Rings
Has eight moons (largest is Triton) Triton orbits backwards Has 6 rings that are comprised of dust
particles