The Outer The Outer PlanetsPlanets

Astronomy 1Astronomy 1

Weekly QuizWeekly Quiz

In place of a quiz this week, you In place of a quiz this week, you must be able to identify each inner must be able to identify each inner planet and give several facts for planet and give several facts for each.each.

So pay attention!!!!So pay attention!!!!

The Outer PlanetsThe Outer Planets The outer planets are The outer planets are

huge in comparison to huge in comparison to the inner planetsthe inner planets

Of the outer planets Of the outer planets Jupiter is the largest (the Jupiter is the largest (the largest of all planets for largest of all planets for that matter!)that matter!) If Earth was the size of an If Earth was the size of an

average student – Jupiter average student – Jupiter would be a six-story would be a six-story buildingbuilding

The outer planets The outer planets include Jupiter, Saturn, include Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune Uranus and Neptune All are comprised of gasesAll are comprised of gases

The Outer PlanetsThe Outer Planets Because the planets are Because the planets are

so large they have an so large they have an enormous amount of enormous amount of gravitational pull – this gravitational pull – this does not allow the gases does not allow the gases to escape into spaceto escape into space

Scientist believe that Scientist believe that the gas planets have a the gas planets have a dense solid core, but dense solid core, but there is no way to be there is no way to be sure because they are sure because they are buried deep in the buried deep in the planetplanet

The Outer PlanetsThe Outer Planets They are much colder They are much colder

than the inner planets than the inner planets because they are so because they are so far away from the sun far away from the sun

They resemble a mini They resemble a mini solar system because solar system because of the immense of the immense gravitational pullgravitational pull

They are all They are all surrounded by rings surrounded by rings (but Saturn is known (but Saturn is known for its rings)for its rings)

JupiterJupiter 55thth planet from the sun planet from the sun Largest planet in the Largest planet in the

solar systemsolar system The gases that The gases that

surround Jupiter are surround Jupiter are mostly hydrogen and mostly hydrogen and heliumhelium

Jupiter has a famous Jupiter has a famous Giant Red Spot – it Giant Red Spot – it appears to be a storm appears to be a storm similar to a hurricane; similar to a hurricane; however, the Earth however, the Earth could fit inside the could fit inside the storm about 3 times!storm about 3 times!

JupiterJupiter Jupiter has many moons; Jupiter has many moons;

the largest four are the largest four are namednamed IoIo EuropaEuropa GanymedeGanymede Callisto Callisto

Io has many volcanoes causing Io has many volcanoes causing the surface to constantly the surface to constantly changechange

Europa appears to have an icy Europa appears to have an icy crust with flowing water below crust with flowing water below the surface – what could that the surface – what could that mean?mean?

Ganymede is the largest moon Ganymede is the largest moon and also has an icy crustand also has an icy crust

Callisto is also icyCallisto is also icy

JupiterJupiter One day is less One day is less

than 10 hours – than 10 hours – this rapid rotation this rapid rotation causes the “bands”causes the “bands”

Takes about 12 Takes about 12 years to revolve years to revolve around the sunaround the sun

SaturnSaturn 66thth planet from the planet from the

sunsun 22ndnd largest planet in largest planet in

the solar systemthe solar system Known for its Known for its

beautiful ringsbeautiful rings The rings are made of The rings are made of

ice chunks and rocksice chunks and rocks There only appears to There only appears to

be one large ring, but be one large ring, but there are actually there are actually hundredshundreds

SaturnSaturn

There are many There are many moons around moons around Saturn, 5 are Saturn, 5 are namednamed TitanTitan TethysTethys IapetusIapetus DioneDione RheaRhea

SaturnSaturn

One day is One day is approximately 11 approximately 11 hourshours

Takes about 30 Takes about 30 years to revolve years to revolve around the sunaround the sun

Very low densityVery low density Atmosphere is Atmosphere is

mostly hydrogen mostly hydrogen and heliumand helium

UranusUranus 77thth planet from the sun planet from the sun Has a bluish look Has a bluish look

because of the methane because of the methane in the atmospherein the atmosphere

Uranus rotates on a Uranus rotates on a horizontal axis as oppose horizontal axis as oppose to a vertical axis like to a vertical axis like every other planet in the every other planet in the solar systemsolar system

Uranus also has moons Uranus also has moons one with flowing lava on one with flowing lava on the surface, but most are the surface, but most are icy and cratered icy and cratered

UranusUranus

33rdrd largest planet largest planet in the solar systemin the solar system

One day is One day is approximately 18 approximately 18 hourshours

Takes about 84 Takes about 84 years to revolve years to revolve around the sunaround the sun

UranusUranus

Has a solid core Has a solid core surround by a surround by a mantel of liquid mantel of liquid water with water with dissolved ammonia dissolved ammonia (similar to window (similar to window cleaner)cleaner)

Also has rings, but Also has rings, but not as visible as not as visible as SaturnSaturn

NeptuneNeptune 88thth planet from the sun planet from the sun Contains visible clouds similar Contains visible clouds similar

to cirrus clouds on Earthto cirrus clouds on Earth Neptune was not discovered, Neptune was not discovered,

but predicted by astronomers but predicted by astronomers – it could not been seen at the – it could not been seen at the time, but its orbit was time, but its orbit was predicted and in 1846 was predicted and in 1846 was first seenfirst seen

It contains a giant dark spot It contains a giant dark spot similar to the storm on Jupitersimilar to the storm on Jupiter

Neptune also has many moons Neptune also has many moons – the largest is named Triton– the largest is named Triton

NeptuneNeptune

One day is One day is approximately 14 approximately 14 hourshours

Takes Takes approximately 165 approximately 165 years to revolve years to revolve around the sunaround the sun

Very similar in size Very similar in size and composition as and composition as UranusUranus