Astronomy 5 (Planets)
Neptune diameter
49500
Jupiter's distance and orbit
5 AU and 12 years
Uranus diameter
51200
Jupiter rotation
9.9 hours
Saturn mass
95 earths
What is Uranus' axis tilt?
98 degrees, orbits on side, so extremely dramatic seasons.
Rather than a mantle, Jupiter has a huge region composed of what?
A fairly unique state of hydrogen called liquid metallic hydrogen.
Why is Uranus tilted on its side?
A possible collision with a large planetary body when our system was first forming.
What are the uppermost cloud of Jupiter and Saturn composed of?
Ammonia crystals
Based on what we know what is our current model for the layers of Uranus?
It has a small rocky core, a thick "icy" mantle, and a thick atmosphere of mostly hydrogen and helium.
What was unique about the discovery of Neptune?
It was discovered through mathematical prediction.
In what way does Jupiter affect events in the inner solar system?
Its extreme mass gives it a very large gravitational pull which warps the paths of comets, asteroids, and other objects which can both cause and prevent collisions with planets.
Which jovian planet has the largest magnetic field?
Jupiter
Gas Giants
Jupiter and Saturn
What is synchrotron radiation from Jupiter an evidence of?
Jupiter has a strong magnetic field.
Compared to the other planets how fast is Jupiter's rotation?
Jupiter has the fastest rotation of the planets.
What is the greater part of the interior of Jupiter?
Liquid metallic hydrogen
What are Neptune's upper clouds composed of?
Methane
Primary elements of the rock planets
Mg, Si, Fe, and all others
Cassini
Mission to Saturn that was launched in 1997 and arrived in 2004. Studied rings, moons, and Saturn itself. Deployed entry probe in 2005 that successfully landed.
First spacecrafts to investigate the regions past Mars
NASA Pioneers 10 and 11; launched in 1972 and 1973; pathfinders to Jupiter
What results from the fact that Neptune has a measurable internal heat source but Uranus does not?
Neptune and Uranus have almost the same atmospheric temperature and there are convection currents in Neptune's atmosphere while there are none in Uranus'.
Primary elements of ice planets
O, C, and Ni
Galileo
Orbiter launched toward Jupiter in 1989 and arrived in 1995. Deployed entry probe into Jupiter for first study of atmosphere.
Which of the giant planets would float on water?
Saturn
How does the mass of Saturn compare to that of Jupiter?
Saturn has about 1/3 the mass of Jupiter.
Titan
Saturn's largest moon, second largest moon in solar system, has a substantial, thick nitrogen atmosphere.
Giant (Jovian) Planets
The four outer, or Jovian, planets of our Solar System, which are significantly larger than the rest of the planets and consist largely of gas and/or ice. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune.
Asteroid Belt
The region of the solar system between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, where many asteroids are found.
The hexagonal vortex at Saturn's north pole is a natural result of what conditions on the planet?
The spinning atmosphere of the planet coupled with the planet's rotation.
What do Pioneer 11 and Voyager 1 have in common?
They both used Jupiter's gravitational field to assist their flight to Saturn.
T of F? The orbital axis of Uranus is misaligned with its rotational axis by about 100 degrees.
True
T or F? Neptune is smaller than Uranus in size, but also noticeably more massive.
True
Ice Giants
Uranus and Neptune
Relative to Earth, how massive is Uranus?
Uranus is about 15 times as massive as Earth.
When talking about the outer solar system, what does ice refer to?
Water, ammonia, and methane.
photochemistry
interaction of light and matter with the intent of coherently altering molecular structure. Responsible for the variances/changes of color in Jupiter's clouds.
synchrotron radiation
radiation emitted when charged particles spiral rapidly in a magnetic field. Happens at Jupiter
convection currents
vertical drafts of gas
What is Neptune's axis tilt?
29 degrees, so seasons, but more slowly than Saturn
What is Jupiter's axis tilt?
3 degrees, so no seasons occur
Neptune distance and orbit
30 AU and 165 years
By mass, how much larger than the Earth is Jupiter?
300 times bigger
Jupiter mass
318 earths
What is the internal energy of Jupiter?
4 × 10^17 watts, the largest internal energy source. Primordial heat leftover from the formation of the planet.
Because part of Uranus is so dense, its pressure is high enough that it can turn methane into what?
Diamonds
T or F? Jupiter's atmosphere rotates at the same speed as the underlying planet below.
False
Primary elements of gas planets
H and He
What are the primary elements in the interior of Jupiter and Saturn?
H and He.
What is meant by "rocks" in the context of the gas giants?
Heavier elements like magnesium, silicon, and iron.
Primary element in giant planet's atmosphere
Hydrogen
What element dominates the composition of all four giant planets?
Hydrogen
Why did it take so long to identify hydrogen and helium as the primary components of Jupiter and Saturn, despite their abundance?
Hydrogen and helium have no strong spectral lines in the visible spectrum.
What are the primary compositions of the atmospheres of Saturn and Jupiter?
Hydrogen, helium, methane, and ammonia. But, Saturn has less helium due to the precipitation of Helium.
What is the internal energy of Saturn?
2 × 1017 watts of power. Produces twice as much energy per kilogram of material as does Jupiter.
Saturn density
0.7
Jupiter density
1.3
Uranus density
1.3
Neptune density
1.6
Because of the Jupiter's rotation speed and its density, the planet's diameter is about __% bigger at the equator than it is through the poles.
10
Saturn's distance and orbit
10 AU and 30 years
Saturn rotation
10.7 hours
Saturn diameter
120540
Uranus mass
14 earths
By volume, approximately how many Earths can fit into Jupiter?
1400
Jupiter diameter
142800
Neptune rotation
16.1 hours
Neptune mass
17 earths
Uranus rotation
17.2 hours
Uranus distance and orbit
19 AU and 84 years
What is Saturn's axis tilt?
27 degrees, so there are seasons
When referring to the different colored areas of Jupiter, the darker stripes are called ______ while the lighter stripes are called ______.
Bands, zones.
