Astronomy Ch 8: 5-2-18
Neptune's moon Triton
-unique among the large moons because its orbit is opposite to the planets rotation (retrograde) -at a wonky 23 degree angle -believed to be a captured Kuiper belt object
How many prominent moons does Neptune have?
1 Triton- slightly bigger than Io -unique among the large moons because its orbit is opposite to the planets rotation (retrograde) -at a wonky 23 degree angle -believed to be a captured Kuiper belt object
How many rings does uranus have?
1 - and it is sideways
The giant planets all have:
1. Have strong magnetic fields 2. have rings 3. spin quickly 4. Have rocky core
How many moons does Jupiter have? How many prominent moons does Jupiter have?
67 4 prominent
What is the mass of saturn and why is it unique?
95 M e- remarkably small for such a large planet
The red spot on Jupiter is the same size as?
Earth
The 4 prominent moons of Jupiter are what type of moons?
Galilean moons
What are Jupiter's moons most to least volcanically active?
Io Europa Ganymede Callisto
What are Jupiter's 4 prominent moons named?
Io- most volcanically active Europa Ganymede-largest moon in the solar system -bigger than mercury Callisto-least geologically active
Which planet is the largest gas planet?
Jupiter
Tidal activity compels moons to eject particles which became...?
Jupiters rings
Which planet is the smallest of the gas planets?
Neptune
Titan
One of Saturn's moons larger of the 2 moons -only moon in our solar system to have a substantial atmosphere -it has lakes and rivers of liquid methane -mountain ranges of ice with water spewing volcanoes
How many prominent moons does Saturn have?
Rhea Titan
What is the 2nd largest planet in the solar system?
Saturn
Which planet is the least dense planet in the solar system?
Saturn -it would float in your bathtub
The 3rd largest of the planets?
Uranus
Where is their a giant storm on saturn?
at its south pole -has a similar storm at the north pole
Why doesn't unranus have bands?
because of extremely uneven heating of surface
What is the blue appearance of Uranus and Neptune caused by?
clouds of methane
Neptune great blue spot is a?
giant hurricane -neptune also has bands
The light colored bands on Jupiter indicate?
high pressure zones
What are Saturn's rings made of?
ice particles about the same size as a normal 6 sided dice (they range in size from gain size to boulder size)
What happens to uranus because it rotates on its side?
it has extreme seasonal variations of all the planets
What is unique about uranus?
it rotates sideways -it rotates on its side
Dark colored bands on Jupiter indicate?
low pressure zones
Neptune is slightly ____________ than Uranus (but also slightly __________).
smaller heavier
What do tidal forces from Jupiter do to its moons?
stretch and deform them -this heats them up
What are the bands on Jupiter caused by?
strong Corioliss Effect
What is the Roche Limit?
the closest distance a moon can get from the center of the planet before it is ripped apart by tidal forces ---it is about 2.4 planetary radii
Saturn's rings how did they form?
we aren't exactly sure
