The entire Universe has many planets. Solar planets are the ones we know, and extrasolar planets are those that orbit a star other than the Sun. However, in general terms, each one has a distinct composition. This time, Journey to the Cosmos has taken charge of explaining the planets. gaseous planets of our solar system specifically.
Before listing those that have been explored by man, through the mechanisms created for the same, it is necessary to detail what the Gaseous Planets are. These planets are light and in the Solar System, specifically, they are large and for this reason they are also called gas giants and are basically located in the outer part of the Solar System.
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They are primarily made up of helium and hydrogen This is due to the reflection of the composition of the early solar nebula. What is most striking is that, based on observations made in these studies, these planets exhibit significant meteorological activity and gravitational processes. Furthermore, they possess a large mass of gas in permanent convection, despite their small core.
Compared to the planet Earth, the Gas Planets are extremely giant. Our Solar System has Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, also called Jovian planets in reference to the planet Jupiter, since its gaseous nature is like that of Jupiter. An interesting fact is that although some of them have a solid center, the Jovian planets are considered gas giants.
The 3 largest gaseous planets in the solar system
One: Jupiter
Not only among the Gaseous Planets is it the largest, but it is the largest in the entire Solar System. In fact, the planet Jupiter it has almost two and a half times the matter of all the other planets combined and its entire volume is a thousand times that of the volume of the planet Earth. That's how giant it is! We would be a tiny particle by their side, totally different from what they show on television when someone fictionally visits one of these planets.
Apparently the planets more away from the sun, are mostly made of gas. However, their size cannot be determined based on their distance from each other. In fact, of the planets that are called outer or gaseous, Jupiter is the closest to the Sun.
As a curious fact, it is important to note that this planet has a composition similar to that of the Sun, formed by helium, hydrogen and small amounts of methane, water vapor, ammonia and other compounds. In addition, its composition is similar to that of Saturn, another gas giant.
The planet Jupiter, the largest of the gas planets, has a ring system that is so subtle that it is invisible when viewed from Earth. In addition to that, it also has many satellites. Specifically four of its satellites were discovered by Galileo in the year 1610. At that time it was the first time that someone observed the sky with a telescope.
Jupiter basic facts
This planet compared to our planet Earth, has a equatorial radius of 71.492 kilometers, while the Earth has it of 6.378 kilometers. In addition to an average distance from the Sun of approximately 778.330.000Km and the Earth has it of 149.600.000Km. Our period of orbit around the Sun lasts exactly one year, while Jupiter to complete the full orbit around the Sun takes 11,86 years.
This gaseous planet also has an average surface temperature of -120º C, when on the other hand the Earth has it at 15º C. Jupiter's atmosphere it is quite complex, due to the amount of clouds and storms. For this reason it shows stripes of different colors and some spots. One in particular is special that has captured the attention of different astronomers and scholars.
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big red spot
Something that characterizes the planet Jupiter is that it has a Great Red Spot, which studies show is a storm larger than the diameter of Earth and located in the tropical latitudes of the southern hemisphere. This storm produces winds of 500 km/h on this gas planet. Furthermore, Jupiter's rings are simpler than Saturn's.
Such rings are made up of dust particles that were thrown into space when meteorites collide with inner moons of jupiter. However, both Jupiter's rings and moons move within a huge glob of radiation that is trapped in the magnetosphere, which is the planet's magnetic field.
This enormous magnetic field only reaches between 3 and 7 million kilometers in the direction of the Sun, however it is projected in the opposite direction, more than 750 million km., until it reaches the Saturn's orbit.
Two: Saturn
This planet is also known as the second largest planet in our Solar System. On the other hand, Saturn is the only planet that has rings visible from Earth. For this reason, it was previously thought to be the only planet with rings. Its specific shape is clearly seen as a planet flattened at the poles due to rapid rotation.
Saturn has a atmosphere made up of hydrogen, with a little helium and methane. In addition, it's the only planet with a density less than water. If we found a large enough ocean, Saturn would float. On the other hand, the planet is yellowish in color. However, its clouds have bands of other colors, like Jupiter's, although they are not as pronounced. Near Saturn's equator, the wind blows at 500 km/h.
Saturn's appearance is quite attractive due to its rings, since two of them are bright, A and B, and one is softer, C. Between them there are openings. The largest is the Cassini Division. Compared to planet Earth, Saturn has an equatorial radius of 60.268 km, while Earth's is 6.378 km. On the other hand, Saturn orbits the Sun in 29,46 years, while the Earth does it in the period of 1 year.
Three: Uranus
As far as location is concerned, the planet Uranus It is the seventh planet from the Sun. However, it is also the third largest and the fourth most massive in the Solar System. This planet was also the first to be discovered thanks to the use of a telescope, in 1781. This planet has an atmosphere composed of methane, hydrogen, and other hydrocarbons. However, it is methane that absorbs red light, which is why blue and green hues are reflected.
The planet Uranus, moreover, is also tilted in such a way that the equator makes almost a right angle, 98 degrees to be exact, with the orbit path. This position is what means that at times the hottest part, facing the Sun, is one of the poles.
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Compared to the planet Earth, Uranus has an equatorial radius of 25.559 km, while the Earth has an equatorial radius of 6.378 km. On the other hand, Uranus orbits around the Sun in a period of 84,01 years, while the Earth does it in a period of 1 year. Its temperature is -210 º C at the average surface level, quite different from that of our planet, which is 15 º C.
The three aforementioned Gas Planets are quite amazing and worth knowing about. scientific level and academic. However, none are as impressive as planet Earth, as it is, so far, the only known living body. Although we are still waiting for another space body to provide evidence of a living particle.
