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JUPITER
The fifth planet from the sun, Jupiter is huge and is the
most massive planet in our solar system. Its a mostly
gaseous world, mostly hydrogen and helium. Its swirling
clouds are colorful due to different types of trace gases. A
big feature is the Great Red Spot, a giant storm which has
raged for hundreds of years. Jupiter has a strong magnetic
field, and with dozens of moons, it looks a bit like a
miniature solar system.
Discovery:Knowntotheancients
andvisibletothenakedeye
Named for:Romangodof
agriculture
Diameter:74,900miles(120,500
km)
Orbit:29.5Earthyears
Day:About10.5Earthhours
SATURN
The sixth planet from the sun is known most
for its rings. The rings are made of ice and
rock. Scientists are not yet sure how they
formed. The gaseous planet is mostly
hydrogen and helium. It has numerous
moons.
Discovery:1781byWilliamHerschel
(wasthoughtpreviouslytobeastar)
Named for:Personificationof
heaveninancientmyth
Diameter:31,763miles(51,120km)
Orbit:84Earthyears
Day:18Earthhours
URANUS
The seventh planet from the sun, Uranus is an oddball. Its the only
giant planet whose equator is nearly at right angles to its orbit it
basically orbits on its side. Astronomers think the planet collided with
some other planet-size object long ago, causing the tilt. The tilt causes
extreme seasons that last 20-plus years, and the sun beats down on
one pole or the other for 84 Earth-years. Uranus is about the same size
as Neptune. Methane in the atmosphere gives Uranus its blue-green
tint. It hasnumerous moonsand faint rings.
NEPTUNE
The eighth planet from
the sun, Neptune is
known for strong winds
sometimes faster than
the speed of sound.
Neptune is far out and
cold. The planet is more
than 30 times as far from
the sun as Earth. It has a Discovery:1846
rocky core. Neptune was Named for:Romangodof
the first planet to be water
predicted to exist by Diameter:30,775miles(49,530
using math, before it was km)
detected. Orbit:165Earthyears
Day:19Earthhours