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The Planets of the Outer Solar System. The outer solar system has four GIANT planets. Beyond Mars stretches the outer solar system where the four largest planets slowly orbit the sun. We call these planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the gas giants. The gas giants have very
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The outer solar system has four GIANT planets • Beyond Mars stretches the outer solar system where the four largest planets slowly orbit the sun. • We call these planets, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, the gas giants.
The gas giants have very deep atmospheres • The gas giants are made mainly of hydrogen, helium, and other gases.
How are the outer planets different from the inner planets? • When you think of gases, you probably think of Earth’s air, which is not very dense. • However, the giant planets are so large and have such huge amounts of these gases that they have a LOT of mass.
Why are these planets so large? • The HUGE gravitational force from such a large mass is enough to pull the gas particles close together and make the atmosphere very dense.
What are these planets like? • Inside, the gases become more dense than water. • The outermost parts are less dense and more like Earth’s atmosphere. Jupiter
Gas giants have layers! • Imagine traveling into one… • The atmosphere is thin and very cold. There may be a haze of gases. Saturn Saturn
Gas giants have layers! • A little lower is a layer of clouds that reflect sunlight, just like on Earth.There are strong winds and other weather patterns. Neptune
Gas giants have layers! • Lower down, it • is warmer and • there are layers • of clouds of • different • materials. Uranus
Gas giants have layers! • As you go farther, the atmosphere gradually becomes dense enough to be called a liquid. It also gets thousands of degrees hotter as you get closer to the center of the planet!
In the center is a solid core! • The materials • become more • and more dense • until they are • solid. Neptune
Find out more! • Read (734 or 94E) to find out more about the gas giants. • Complete the pages in your Planet Book.