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Exploring the Gas Giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

The gas giants of our solar system, including Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, showcase diverse characteristics. Jupiter, the largest planet, is known for its massive size, fast spin, and the iconic Great Red Spot. Saturn is famous for its stunning rings and numerous moons, while Uranus is unique for its tilted axis and blue appearance caused by methane. Neptune, the farthest giant, has a mysterious atmosphere and a history of storms. Together, they represent the dynamic nature of planetary science.

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Exploring the Gas Giants: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune

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  1. The gas giants Pg. 35

  2. 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.

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Neptune’s Moons and Rings • Has eight moons (largest is Triton) • Triton orbits backwards • Has 6 rings that are comprised of dust particles

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