Transcript 2.4 - Horace Mann Webmail

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.