Earth Science
Chapter 20
Section 4
A. The Outer Planets:
Scientists believe that the larger planets have a solid core made
of rock, ice, frozen carbon dioxide and other compounds.
5. Jupiter:
- The fifth planet from the sun. 778 million Km.
- The largest planet in the solar system.
- Diameter is 142,800 Km.
- Upper atmosphere is banded with light and dark belts.
The light belt are high cool billowing clouds
The dark belts are warmer lower level clouds
- The most noticeable feature is a red oval-shaped region believed
to be a great storm with winds over 322 Km per hour.
- The atmosphere is made mostly of Hydrogen, Helium, Methane
and Ammonia.
- Rotates on its axis once every 9 hours and 50 minutes.
- Make one revolution around the sun every 12 years.
- 18+ known moons- Four Major Moons- Io, Europa, Ganymede
and Callisto
6. Saturn:
- Sixth planet from the sun at 1 billion 428 thousand Km.
- Has a diameter of 120,540 Km. Second largest planet.
- Rotates on its axis once every 10 hours and 14 minutes.
- Makes one revolution around the sun every 29 ½ years.
- Ring around the equator is made of three separate sections, each
separated by a narrow gap.
- The rings consist of small particles which revolve around the
planet.
- Has 18 + known moons. Titan, Saturn's largest satellite is the
only satellite to show a detectable atmosphere. Other moonsTethys, Iapetus, Dione and Rhea.
7. Uranus:
- Distance from the sun 2 billion 871 million Km
- Diameter 51,200 Km
- Rotates on its axis once every 10 hours and 49 minutes.
- Make one revolution around the sun every 84 years.
- Has 20 + satellites
- Atmosphere mostly Hydrogen and Helium and a large
concentration of methane gas.
- Extremely low temperatures causing large amounts of ice and
less gas.
- Uranus can be seen, on clear nights, by the unaided eye.
8. Neptune:
- The eighth planet from the sun at 4 billion 497 million Km.
- Diameter of 49, 500 Km
- Rotates on its axis once every 15 hours and 15 minutes
- Makes one revolution around the sun every 165 years.
- Great dark spot, once a large storm
- Has 8 known moons. Largest moon – Triton- poles
covered with ice.
- Atmosphere similar to Uranus.
9. Pluto:
- Most distant known planet.
- Distance from the sun 5 billion 913 million Km
- Very little known about its surface
- Diameter is about 2200 Km
- Rotates on its axis once every 153 hours
- Makes one revolution around the sun every 248 years.
- Has one known satellite 19,300 Km from its surface with a
diameter of about 1, 610 Km. Charon