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Transcript
THE OUTER PLANETS • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the outer planets. • They are all large compared to the inner planets. • Jupiter has a diameter that is 11 times that of Earth. • They all have very small hard cores but are mostly gaseous, therefor they are called the gas giants. • They all have such a strong gravitational pull that they have thick atmospheres. • We think that each of the outer planets has a small core of solid rock, ice, carbon dioxide or other compounds. • JUPITER • Jupiter has a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. • It has many colorful bands. • It also has a giant red spot that is believed to be a storm that has been going on for a long time. • Galileo found four moons around Jupiter. • There names are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. • We have found 13 more moons for a total of 17. • Jupiter almost became a star. It did not get quite hot enough to fuse. It does give off more energy than it receives from the sun. • SATURN • Saturn is slightly smaller than Jupiter. • It also has a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. • Saturn is the only planet that is less dense than water. It is the only planet that would float on water. • Saturn’s famous rings are made of chunks of rock and ice that are orbiting the planet. • From Earth it looks like a few rings but there really are hundreds of thin rings. • Saturn has nineteen moons. URANUS • Uranus is much smaller than Jupiter or Saturn. • It is twice the distance from the sun as Saturn so it is much colder. • Looks blue due to methane gas in its atmosphere. • Uranus was the first planet discovered in modern times. • Voyager 2 photographed Uranus. • It rotates on its side. • It has several rings. • Uranus has 17 moons. NEPTUNE • Neptune is 30 times the Earth’s distance from the sun. • Its atmosphere contains visible clouds. • Neptune was discovered because Uranus was not following its predicted path. • Astronomers predicted that another planet must have an effect on Uranus. • Voyager 2 passed Neptune and found colored spots. The Hubble telescope later found the spots to be gone. Neptune has 8 moons. PLUTO AND CHARON • Pluto is not a planet. It is more like a comet but it orbits the sun like a planet. • It has a moon called Charon.