The Outer Planets

1. The Outer Planets Chapter 20 Section 4

2. The Outer Planets • The Outer planets are the 5 outermost planets • Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, & Pluto

3. The Gas Giants • The first 4 outer planets are known as the Gas Giants • That’s Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune • The Gas Giants are much larger than Earth and DO NOT have solid surfaces. • Pluto is not a Gas Giant because it has a rocky surface… • So it’s a terrestrial planet!

4. The Gas Giants • Although they have gas surfaces, the Gas Giants have solid cores made of rock, ice, frozen carbon dioxide (Dry Ice), and other compounds.

5. Jupiter • Jupiter is the 5th planet from the sun. • It is the largest planet. • It is more than 300 times larger than Earth!!!!

6. The Great Red Spot • Jupiter’s most prominent feature is the Great Red Spot • The area of swirling red clouds that is actually a storm. • The Great Red Spot is so big that mulitple Earths can fit in it!

7. Saturn • Saturn is the 6th planet from the sun • It is also the 2nd largest planet • Saturn has a thick atmosphere like Jupiter • Mostly made of hydrogen and helium

8. Saturn’s Rings • Saturn is known for its beautiful rings • The Rings are made of chunks of ice and rock

9. Uranus • Uranus is the 7th planet from the sun • It is TWICE as far from the Sun as Saturn!! • Uranus titled 90o from the vertical

10. Neptune • Neptune is the 8th planet from the Sun • Neptune has a blue atmosphere • Neptune was discovered thanks to a mathematical prediction.

11. Pluto… • Pluto was the 9th planet of our Solar System • Unlike the other Outer Planets, Pluto is a terrestrial planet

12. Pluto…is it really a planet?? • Pluto is smaller than the Moon and much smaller than the Earth • In 2006, Pluto was reclassified as a Dwarf Planet by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) • Some scientists still argue that Pluto should still be a planet