The Gas Giants of Our Solar System

Jupiter

• Size: 11 times larger than Earth
• Surface: Lacks a true surface; composed mostly of swirling gases and liquids.
• Key Features:
  • Houses a vast ocean made of hydrogen.
  • Atmosphere consists of 90% hydrogen and 10% helium.
  • Famous for the Great Red Spot, a massive storm ongoing for hundreds of years.
• Life: Very unlikely due to extreme pressures and temperatures.

Saturn

• Size: 9 times larger than Earth
• Surface: Like Jupiter, lacks a solid surface; is a gas giant.
• Atmosphere: Similar to Jupiter and the Sun, with over 95% hydrogen and about 3% helium.
• Distance from Sun: 9.5 AU
• Life: Cannot support life.

Uranus

• Size: Roughly 4 times the size of Earth
• Surface: No solid surface. Notably cold temperatures averaging -353°F.
• Key Features:
  • Surface clouds made of ice crystals of water, methane, and ammonia.
  • Has a small solid core.
• Atmosphere: Approximately 83% hydrogen, 15% helium, and 2% methane.
• Distance from Sun: 19.2 AU
• Life: No known life.

Neptune

• Size: 4 times the size of Earth
• Surface: Mainly a dense mixture of water, methane, and ammonia surrounding a small dense solid core.
• Atmosphere: Primarily hydrogen, helium, and about 1% methane.
• Distance from Sun: 30 AU
• Life: No detected life.