Jupiter: Giant Among Planets Mass that is 2.5 times greater
than the mass of all the other planets & moons combined Rotates
quickest (1 rotation = 10 Earth yrs.) Alternating bands of
multicolored clouds (caused by wind systems) Great Red Spot in
SH
Slide 3
Continued Hydrogen-Helium atmosphere (w/ small amts. of
methane, ammonia, water, & sulfur) Gives off 2x more heat than
received Atmospheric pressure at the top of clouds is = to sea
level pressure on Earth Pressure increases as you reach surface 28
moons discovered so far Rings are composed of fine, dark
particles
Slide 4
Slide 5
Saturn: The Elegant Planet Most prominent feature is its system
of rings Atmosphere is very active Large cyclonic storms occur in
atmosphere Each ring is composed of individual particles (moonlets)
of ice & rock Rings fall into 2 categories based on density 31
moons (Titan is the largest)
Slide 6
Slide 7
Uranus: The Sideway Planet Rotates on its side Instead of being
generally perpendicular to the plane of its orbit like the other
planets, Uranuss axis of rotation lies nearly parallel with the
plane of its orbit
Slide 8
Slide 9
Neptune: The Windy Planet Atmosphere like Jupiter & Saturn
Winds exceed 1000 km per hr. (one of the windiest in the solar
system) Great Dark Spot White, cirrus like clouds (likely frozen
methane) 13 moons (Triton represents retrograde motion) Shows that
Triton formed independently of Neptune & was gravitationally
captured
Slide 10
Slide 11
Pluto: Planet X Since its discovery in 1930, it has completed
about of a revolution Orbit is highly eccentric, causing it to
occasionally travel inside the orbit of Neptune, where it stayed
from 1979 Feb. 1999 Avg. temp. is -210 degrees Celsius
Slide 12
REVIEW What is the largest planet? What is the smallest planet?
Identify 1 distinguishing characteristic of each outer planet. How
are Titan & Triton similar?
Slide 13
23.4 Minor Members of the Solar System
Slide 14
Asteroids: Microplanets Small rocky bodies that have been
likened to flying mountains Lie btw the orbits of Mars &
Jupiter Orbital periods of 3-6 years Irregular shapes
Slide 15
Comets Pieces of rocky & metallic materials held together
by frozen gases, such as water, ammonia, methane, CO2, and carbon
monoxide Elongated orbits Coma glowing head A small glowing nucleus
with a diameter of only a few km can sometimes be detected within a
coma As comets approach the sun, some, but not all, develop a tail
that extends for millions of km
Slide 16
Slide 17
Continued Kuiper Belt comets with short orbital periods that
orbit beyond Neptune Circular orbits Oort Cloud - comets with long
orbital periods arent confined to the plane of the solar system
Halleys comet is the most famous short period comet
Slide 18
Meteoroids Small solid particle that travels through space
Originate from any one of the following 3 sources: Interplanetary
debris that was not gravitationally swept up by the planets during
the formation of the solar system Material from the asteroid belt
The solid remains of comets that once traveled near Earths orbit A
meteoroid that reaches Earth is called a meteorite