1. Chapter 27.4 The Outer Planets
Std. 1a- Students know how the differences and similarities among the sun, the terrestrial planets, and the gas planets may have been established during the formation of the solar system
Objective 1: Identify the differences between the outer planets and the terrestrial planets
Objective 2: Compare the characteristics of the outer planets
Objective 3: Explain why Pluto is different from the other 8 planets

2. The Outer Planets The 5 Planets farthest from the sun are: 6) Saturn
5) Jupiter
6) Saturn
7) Uranus
8) Neptune
9) Pluto
Asteroid belt - A ring of debris that separates the inner and outer planets

3. Gas Giants
Gas giants are much larger than terrestrial planets (much less dense)
Thick atmosphere = mostly hydrogen and helium
Cores = rock and metal
All four gas giants have ring systems made of dust and ice debris

4. Jupiter 5th planet from the sun Largest planet 300x larger than Earth
Orbits the sun every 12 years
Rotates every 9hrs 50 min. (fastest)
At least 60 moons
Several thin rings

5. Jupiter’s Atmosphere
Hydrogen and helium makes up 92% of the atmosphere
Rapid rotation causes gases to swirl around the planet and form bands
Great Red Spot – giant storm
Average temperature -160 ° C

6. Jupiter’s interior
Jupiter’s interior has higher temperature and pressure than Earth’s interior
Interior is a liquid (metallic hydrogen) surrounding a solid, rocky, iron core

7. Objective 1: Identify the differences between the outer planets and the terrestrial planets
What is the ring of debris that separates the inner and outer planets?
Asteroid Belt
Gas giants atmosphere’s are made of mostly…
Hydrogen and Helium
What is the name of the storm on Jupiter?
Great Red Spot
What do gas giants have that terrestrial planets don’t?
Rings

8. Saturn 6th planet from the sun Orbital period is 29.5 years
Cloud temperature -176 ° C
At least 30 moons, Titan (largest moon) is half the size of Earth
Made of hydrogen & helium (rocky iron core)

9. Saturn’s rings Most complex system of rings of all the gas giants
made of billions of ice and dust particles
Rotates every 10h 30 min
Fast rotating & low density causes Saturn to bulge at the equator

10. Uranus 7th planet from the sun 3 billion km away (difficult to study )
24 moons
11 thin rings
Orbits every 84 yrs

11. Uranus rotation Axis is parallel to the plane of it’s orbit
Most planets rotate perpendicular
Rotates every 17 hrs.
Atmosphere - hydrogen & helium
Blue/green color indicates presence of methane
-214 °C core of rock and melted elements

12. Neptune 8th planet Same size and mass as Uranus
Orbital period is nearly 164 years
Rotates every 16 hrs.
Has at least 8 moons & possibly 4 rings

13. Neptune’s Atmosphere Consists of hydrogen, helium & methane
Solar systems strongest wind > 1,000 km/h
The Great Dark Spot is a storm as big as Earth
Cloud temperature = °C

14. Objective 2: Compare the characteristics of the outer planets
What are Saturn’s rings made of?
Billions of dust and particles
What is the name of the storm on Neptune?
The Great Dark Spot
What’s unique about Uranus’s rotation?
It rotates almost parallel to the plane of it’s orbit
What gives Uranus’s it’s blue/green color?
Methane

15. Pluto Dwarf planet Elongated orbit (sometimes in Neptune’s orbit)
Made of frozen methane, rock & ice
Very different than the gas giants (may not be an actual planet)

16. Objects Beyond Pluto
Kuiper Belt - A region of the solar system beyond Neptune’s orbit which contains small bodies made of ice
Pluto may be the largest body of the Kuiper Belt

17. Exoplanets Exoplanets - planets that orbit other stars
They DO NOT orbit the sun in our solar system

18. Objective 3: Explain why Pluto is different from the other 8 planets
What makes up Pluto?
Frozen methane, rock and ice
Why is Pluto not considered an actual planet?
Very different than the gas giants
Pluto may be the largest body of the…
The Kuiper Belt
What are planets that orbit other stars?
Exoplanets