The Jovian Planets

Saturn

Image Courtesy of NASA/JPL

Although all of the Jovian planets show one main similarity, being made of gas, they also show a variety of differences in either their atmosphere, their size, and/or their composition. It was not until the Voyager space crafts traveled past, that astronomers discovered all four planets had a system of rings. All of the rings differ in composition and origination, but all possess these features. Each planet has a different number of natural satellites, and each planet is a different distance from the Sun.

Think IconDid you keep the list that you made in this topic’s Warm-Up activity? If so, review the information that you included on it. Consider how you would change this document now that you have learned about the terrestrial planets.