Astronomy: Jovian Planets and their Moons

Great Red Spot

A storm on Jupiter lasting over 400 years

Ammonia (Jupiter)

The compound responsible for Jupiter's reddish-brown bands

Ammonia Crystals

These give Jupiter its colorful appearance

Galilean Moons

Jupiter's major moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto

Hydrocarbon Haze

Causes Saturn's yellowish appearance

Titan

Saturn's largest moon, with a thick atmosphere and liquid methane lakes

Icy Mantle

Uranus's interior layer, containing water, methane, and ammonia ices

Methane (Uranus)

Absorbs red light and reflects blue-green wavelengths

Shakespearean Characters

Uranus's moons are named after these literary figures

Triton

Neptune's largest moon, has a retrograde orbit and nitrogen geysers

Uranus Rotation

Retrograde (rotates on its side)

Tidal Forces

Forces that determine the Roche Limit, where rings can form

Ice Giants

Uranus and Neptune are classified as these due to their composition

Jupiter Special Features

Largest planet in our solar system. Red spot. Strongest magnetic field.

Jupiter composition

Primarily hydrogen and helium. Possible rocky/metallic core

Saturn Composition

Primarily hydrogen and helium. Higher proportion of helium than Jupiter. Small rocky core

Uranus Composition

Hydrogen-helium atmosphere. Rocky Core

Neptune

Higher proportion of methane than Uranus. Mantle of water, ammonia, and methane ices

Size order:

Jupiter>Saturn>Uranus=Neptune

Composition:

Jupiter/Saturn (gas giants) vs. Uranus/Neptune (Ice Giants)

Ring Systems:

All have rings, but Saturns are most prominent

Internal heat:

Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune emit more heat than they receive from the Sun

Rotation effects

Rapid rotation causes equatorial bulging in all gas giants

Density order of planets

Neptune>Jupiter>Uranus>Saturn

Which planet shows signs of tectonic plates

None

Saturn moons composition

Icey and rock

Roche limit

The minimum distance at which a satellite

Saturn Special Features

Spectacular ring system. Lowest Density. Hexagon storm at North Pole

Uranus Special Features

Rotates on its side. Appears Pale Blue Color. Coldest planetary atmosphere.

Neptune Special Features

Deep blue color. Great dark spot. Strongest winds in solar system.