Download 14-4

Outer Planets
Section 14-4
Outer
Planets
The gas giants-
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Jupiter, Saturn,
Uranus, and
Neptune
Much larger than
Earth and do not
have solid surfaces
Atmospheres are
all very similar to
each other
Mostly
hydrogen and
helium gas
Jupiter (Roman Supreme God)
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Very thick atmosphere-mostly hydrogen and
helium
Great Red Spot - ongoing storm that is at
least twice the size of Earth.
The largest of all the planets
Has 63+ moons
Saturn (Roman God of Agriculture)
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Second largest planet
Has 47+ moons
Rings of ice and rock orbit the planet and can
be seen from earth without special optics
Uranus (Roman’s Earliest Supreme
God – Grandfather of Jupiter)
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Rotates from top to bottom-tilted 90
Looks bluish because of methane in
atmosphere
Has 27+ moons
Neptune (Roman God of the Sea)
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Atmosphere similar to other gas giants and has
visible clouds
Had a Great Dark Spot - storm the size of
earth that is now gone
Has 13+ moons
Pluto (Roman God of the
Underworld)
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Is now a dwarf planet
Has a solid surface
Size is less than 2/3 Earth’s moon