8.3: Gas Giant Planets and Select Satellites Overviews

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Solar System’s Gas Giant Planets at a Glance

Jupiter

Public Domain | Image courtesy of NASA.

Characteristics

Atmosphere

Hydrogen (H ₂), Helium (H _e), Methane (CH ₄), Ammonia (NH ₃), Water (H ₂O)

Rotation

Short rotation — 9.8 hours

Revolution

Long revolution — 11.86 years

Rings

One thin ring detected by the Voyager 2 spacecraft

Magnetic Field

A very strong magnetic field; 20,000 times that of Earth’s

Satellites

The Bottom Line…

Largest solar system planet
Great Red Spot
Gives off more heat than receives
Small, dense rocky core surrounded by H ₂and H _e
Radio source
Aurora
Lightning and thunderstorms

Saturn

Public Domain | Image courtesy of NASA.

Characteristics

Atmosphere

Hydrogen (H ₂), Helium (H _e), Methane (CH ₄), Ammonia (NH ₃), Water (H ₂O)

Rotation

Short rotation — 10.6 hours

Revolution

Long revolution — 29.46 years

Rings

An intricate system of rings:
- Spokes
- Twisted F ring
- Giant outer ring

Magnetic Field

Satellites

The Bottom Line…

Spectacular / intricate rings
Would float in water
Small, dense rocky core surrounded by H2 and He
Polar hexagon
Aurora
Lightning

Uranus

Public Domain | Image courtesy of NASA.

Characteristics to Compare

Atmosphere

Hydrogen (H ₂), Helium (H _e), Methane (CH ₄), Ammonia (NH ₃), Water (H ₂O)

Rotation

Short rotation — 17.3 hours retrograde (backwards)

Revolution

Long revolution — 84.01 years

Rings

An intricate system of rings:
- 13 rings total; first 9 found via airborne telescope

Magnetic Field

Yes, tilted about 45 ^o. Reason for tilt unknown

Satellites

The Bottom Line…

1st planet discovered with a telescope
Ice Giant
Very small rocky core
Little atmospheric activity
Looks like a billiard ball
Aurora
Neptune’s twin

Neptune

Public Domain | Image courtesy of NASA.

Characteristics to Compare

Atmosphere

Hydrogen (H ₂), Helium (H _e), Methane (CH ₄), Ammonia (NH ₃), Water (H ₂O)

Rotation

Short rotation — 16.1 hours

Revolution

Long revolution — 164.8 years

Rings

A partial, twisted series of 5 rings confirmed by the Voyager 2 spacecraft

Magnetic Field

Yes, tilted about 45 ^o. Reason for tilt unknown

Satellites

The Bottom Line…

1st planet predicted position mathematically
Ice Giant
Very small rocky core
Great Dark Spot, Scooters
Looks like a billiard ball
Aurora
Uranus’ twin

Consider this…

We consider the Gas Giant planets to be huge, especially Jupiter. But when compared to other stellar systems, they are small – even “king of the planets,” Jupiter. Many of these hot Jupiters are much closer to their star than our Gas Giant planets and dwarf Jupiter in size. And it is theorized that some of these so-called “Super Jupiters” might be failed stars, that is, not quite enough mass for the nuclear fusion process. Nuclear fusion is where two particles collide at high speed and form a particle of a higher mass and a lot of energy.

Image of A Super Jupiter orbiting very close to its star.

Public Domain | Image courtesy of NASA.

Provided by: Florida State College at Jacksonville. License: CC BY: Attribution