Outer planets

Introduction

Outer planets, also known as Jovian planets, are gas giants, usually composed of hydrogen and helium. Though the composition of these planets is quite similar to their parent star, i.e., Sun, their core is liquid with gaseous outer layers. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the four outer planets from left to right. Due to their distinct characteristics like numerous moons, magnetosphere, planetary rings, and significant atmospheric activity, these outer planets of the solar system are distinct from the inner planets, although they lack a solid surface. 

Difference between inner planets and outer planets:

The outer and inner planets differ from each other in the following ways:

Characteristics of outer space planets 

Jupiter

• Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and the third-brightest natural object in the night sky, after the moon and Venus. It is also the fourth-brightest object in the sky, after the Sun, Moon, and Venus
• It has no solid surface and comprises swirling patterns of liquids and gases
• Jupiter spins at a rapid speed of 10 Earth years. Its rapid rotation gives Jupiter the shape of an Oblate spheroid with a slightly bulged centre
• Jupiter has 67 known satellites and 4 large moons, also known as Galilean satellites, namely lo, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede, with Ganymede being the largest
• The outer atmosphere of Jupiter is separated into several bands, which causes storms and turbulence

Saturn

• Saturn is one of the outer solar system planets, which has a very prominent ring system. There are 7 known rings of Saturn with well-defined gaps and divisions between them
• The rings of Saturn are composed of ice and primordial dust
• Titan is the largest of Saturn’s 62 prominent moons, as well as the second-largest moon in the solar system
• It has a substantial, nitrogen-rich atmosphere – the only planet in the solar system to have this atmosphere
• It rotates quickly, at a rate of 10.7 Earth hours and takes about 29 Earth years to complete one revolution around the Sun
• Its mass is 95 times that of Earth, while its volume is 755 times that of Earth

Uranus

• Uranus is one of the outer planets that tips and spins on its sides
• The axis of rotation lies around the plane of its orbits. In other words, the poles of Uranus lie where the equators of other planets lie
• Uranus is a large planet and situated extremely far away, i.e. 2.8 billion km away from the Sun
• It has 14 times the mass of Earth and has less density than Earth
• Uranus has a unique retrograde rotation, i.e. opposite to the Sun’s rotation
• Uranus has a high fraction of icy materials like ammonia (NH3), methane (CH4), and water
• It has 27 moons along with magnetic and electric fields

Neptune

• Neptune and Uranus are twin outer planets of the solar system
• Neptune is a gas giant with an atmosphere consisting of helium, hydrogen, and methane gases. Its mantle is made up of methane ices, ammonia, and water, while the core is made up of ice and rock
• Neptune has 14 satellites, with Triton and Nereid being the most prominent among them
• At 2100 km/h, Neptune boasts of the strongest sustained winds among all the planets of the solar system
• There is also an Earth-sized blemish on Neptune called “The Great Dark Spot”
• Neptune was the first planet in the solar system to be located with the help of mathematical calculations

Basic information of the outer planets

Conclusion

Outer planets, or Jovian planets, are primarily composed of gases with a significant share of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter and Saturn (gas giants), Uranus and Neptune (ice giants) are the four outer planets. The common characteristics of the outer planets include low density, lighter materials, presence of numerous moons, rings in the atmosphere, gaseous nature, and large size.