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Explore the composition and structure of the outer Solar System, home to gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn, and ice giants Uranus and Neptune. This region also includes smaller bodies such as centaurs and comets, with celestial features like rings, moons, and cryovolcanism. Learn about the unique characteristics of these distant planets and their satellites, as well as the dynamic environment beyond the main asteroid belt.
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Jupiter is the largest planet in our Solar System with a complex atmosphere, a massive storm, and a retinue of 79 known moons
Saturn's Rings
Saturn is known for its stunning rings and has a similar composition to Jupiter, though it is less massive
The four large Galilean moons of Jupiter and the 82 confirmed moons of Saturn each have unique geologic characteristics and may exhibit signs of subsurface oceans or cryovolcanism
Uranus has an extreme axial tilt, the coldest planetary atmosphere in the Solar System, and a faint ring system
Triton
Neptune's largest moon, Triton, exhibits cryovolcanism and was likely captured from the Kuiper belt
The 27 known moons of Uranus and 14 known moons of Neptune have complex magnetospheres and may have originated from the Kuiper belt or scattered disk
Centaurs are icy asteroid-like objects with unstable orbits between Jupiter and Neptune that may evolve into comets or be ejected from the Solar System
Types of Comets
Short-period comets are thought to come from the Kuiper belt, while long-period comets are believed to originate from the distant Oort cloud
Over time, comets may lose their volatile materials and become more asteroid-like in appearance
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The region beyond the ______ ______ is known for housing the gas giants ______ and ______, as well as the ice giants ______ and ______.
main asteroid belt
Jupiter
Saturn
Uranus
Neptune
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Jupiter's mass compared to other planets
Jupiter has over twice the mass of all other planets in the Solar System combined.
02
Significance of Jupiter's Great Red Spot
The Great Red Spot is a persistent high-pressure region in the atmosphere of Jupiter, producing an anticyclonic storm.
