Chapter 29.3
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Transcript Chapter 29.3
Ch. 29.3 The Outer Planets
Consist of the gas giant planets Jupiter,
Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Pluto is recently demoted, and is no longer
considered a planet(It’s a dwarf planet).
The gas giants are more massive, but much
less dense than the inner planets.
Thick hydrogen / helium atmospheres, with
probable dense cores.
Since they are similar to Jupiter, they
are also known as Jovian planets.
The Gas Giants
Jupiter
5th planet from the sun.
The largest; over twice the mass of
all other planets combined.
Orbit period is 12 years.
Fastest rotation; once every 9 hours
and 50 minutes.
Many moons (63 at last count) and at
least 4 rings.
High internal temp. due to intense
pressure (30,000 C).
Resulting metallic hydrogen creates
enormous magnetic field.
Composed of 92% hydrogen and
helium (similar to the sun; a failed
star?).
No solid surface.
Alternating swirling (due to rapid
rotation) colorful bands suggest
ammonia, methane, and water vapor.
Great Red Spot is giant rotating
storm several hundred years old.
Jupiter
The Great Red Spot
Saturn
6th planet; 2nd largest in the solar
system.
Avg. temp. -176 C.
Many moons (61 at last count) and a
large, complex ring system.
Rapid rotation, once every 10 hours
and 30 minutes.
Bands of colored clouds.
Least dense planet (lower density
than water).
Orbit period 29.5 years.
Saturn
Uranus
7th planet from the sun; 3rd largest.
Discovered in 1781 (1st planet
discovered since ancient times).
Almost 3 billion km from the sun.
At least 22 moons and 11 small rings.
Horizontal rotation, once every 17
hrs.
Orbit period 84 years.
Greenish atmosphere color from
methane, with atmosphere mostly
hydrogen and helium.
Surface temp. -214 C.
Interior may be water and methane
slush.
Temp. increases with depth, up to
7000 C in a rock / metal core.
Uranus
Neptune
8th planet; 4th largest, but very
similar to Uranus in size and mass.
Orbit period 164 years. Rotates once
every 16 hours. 11 moons, 4 rings.
Existence predicted before it was
discovered, after astronomers noticed
variations in Uranus’ expected orbit.
Position was determined
mathematically, then it was
discovered there in the mid-1800’s.
4.5 billion km from the sun.
Blue-green color, with white clouds of
frozen methane in the upper part of
the hydrogen/helium atmosphere.
Strong winds, over 1000 km/hr.
An Earth-sized storm, the Great Dark
Spot.
Surface temp. -225 C.
Neptune and its large moon Triton