THE GAS GIANTSPg. 35

Jupiter

Largest planet (5th from Sun) 11 times larger than Earth (makes up 70 % of

planetary matter) Has a banded appearance due to atmosphere Has 4 major satellites and at least 12 minor

ones Composed of light weight elements Atmosphere- H and He in both gas and liquid

form; has liquid metallic H; electric currents Earth-sized core of heavier elements that have

sunk.

Jupiter Cont’d

Spins fast (1 rotation= 10 hrs) Shape is distorted because of fast spin Has “Great Red Spot” which is a

atmospheric storm that has been rotating around Jupiter for more than 300 years

Alternating cloud types Belts- low, warm, dark-colored clouds that sink Zones- high, cool, light-colored clouds that

rise

Jupiter’s Moons and Rings

4 largest moons called satellites: Io Europa Ganymede Callisto

Composed of ice and rock mixtures Jupiter’s ring is 6400 km wide

Saturn

Second largest planet Atmosphere- rotates rapidly and has belts

and zones; H and He and also ammonia ice

Most likely fluid throughout with small solid core

Saturn’s moons

Rings are composed of rock and ice (microscopic to size of houses)

7 major rings that are each made up of ringlets

18 known satellites Titan (giant) 7 intermediate moons 10 small moons

Uranus

Discovered accidently Has blue, velvety appearance Atmosphere- methane gas (reflects blue

light), H and He; few clouds Completely fluid except small core Axis is almost horizontal (Uranus was

knocked sideways) Each pole spends 42 years in darkness

and 42 years in sunlight

Uranus’ Moons and Rings

18 known moons and rings Recently 3 more possible moons have

been discovered Rings are very dark, almost black Were discovered when a star was covered

by them

Neptune

Few details can be observed from Earth because of its distance away

Atmosphere- bluish color because of methane; has distinctive clouds

Had a persistent storm called the Great Dark Spot that disappeared in 1994

Neptune’s Moons and Rings

Has eight moons (largest is Triton) Triton orbits backwards Has 6 rings that are comprised of dust

particles