The Outer Planets

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The Outer Planets
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• Outer Planets
• Very large planets made of gas
• Much more massive than the inner planets
• Consist of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune

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• Gas Giants ? planets that have deep, massive
  atmospheres rather than hard rocky surfaces

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• Jupiter
• Largest planet in our solar system
• Composed of mainly hydrogen and helium
• Colorful bands are a result of compounds in the
  atmosphere

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• Jupiters Features
• The Great Red Spot ? a storm system that is more
  than 400 years old and 3 times the diameter of
  Earth

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• NASA to Jupiter
• Sent five missions
• discovered a faint ring, moons, and the
  composition, temperature and pressure of Jupiter

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• Saturn
• The second largest planet
• Composed mainly of hydrogen and helium
• The most visible rings of any outer planet
• Rings are made of icy particles varying in size

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• NASA to Saturn
• Launched spacecraft Cassini in 1997 to study the
  rings, moons, and atmosphere
• Arrived in 2004 and is relaying information until
  2008

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• Uranus
• Composed of Hydrogen and Methane
• Only planet tilted on its side
• One pole is pointed towards the sun for part of
  the orbit and the other pole is in darkness, then
  they switch

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• Neptune
• Composition is similar to Uranus
• Contains bands of clouds due to the warm interior
  and cool exterior of the planet
• Contains a Great Dark Spot similar to Jupiters
  Great Red Spot

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Question 1

• What are the four outer planets?

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Answer

• Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

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Question 2

• What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter?

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Answer

• The Great Red Spot is a storm system on Jupiter
  that is more than 400 years old and about 3 times
  the diameter of Earth

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Question 3

• How is the axis of Uranus different from all the
  other planets?

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Answer

• Uranus axis is tilted on its side. Its poles
  face the sun unlike the other planets