What is the difference between gas giants and terrestrial planets

These planets are characterized by a gaseous constitution, rings, and a lot of satellites. A significant characteristic of Jovian Planets is the large numbers of satellites they possess individually.

What is interesting is that one would expect that these moons would have similar characteristics. However, the moons of Jovian Planets have such vast characteristics, that they can be categorized into groups of themselves as well. Discussing the rings of these planets, they are mostly myriad particles of ice, ranging from sizes of small specks of dust to large boulders. These rings are a marvel of physics, as they have a very complex way of interacting with gravity and electrical charges.

Although this has been observed easily, however, it is worth mentioning that the Terrestrial planets are present in the inner part of the Solar System and the Jovian Planets are present in the outer part of the Solar System.

The Solar System is a vast place, full of interesting planetary objects and celestial bodies. It is important to know how to classify them into proper categories in order to study them easily. Understanding the Solar System helps to understand the world around us. Also, why is there not any kind of life present in the Jovian Planets, or is there?

Why are the moons of Jovian Planets so vastly different? There are numerous questions, and answers to be found. Skip to content In the Solar System, there is one star, eight planets, and one dwarf planet. It has a thin atmosphere, which causes it to swing between burning and freezing temperatures. Mercury is also a dense planet, composed mostly of iron and nickel with an iron core.

Its magnetic field is only about 1 percent that of Earth's, and the planet has no known moons. The surface of Mercury has many deep craters and is covered by a thin layer of tiny particle silicates. In , scientists found extensive evidence of organics — the building blocks of life — as well as water ice in craters shaded from the sun.

Mercury's thin atmosphere and close proximity to the sun mean it's impossible for the planet to host life as we know it. Venus , which is about the same size as Earth, has a thick, toxic carbon-monoxide-dominated atmosphere that traps heat, making it the hottest planet in the solar system.

Venus has no known moons. Much of the planet's surface is marked with volcanoes and deep canyons. The biggest canyon on Venus stretches across the surface for 4, miles nearly 6, kilometers. And it's possible that at least some of the planet's volcanoes are still active. Few spacecraft have ever penetrated Venus' thick atmosphere and survived.

And it's not just spacecraft that have trouble getting through the atmosphere — there are fewer crater impacts on Venus than other planets because only the largest meteors can make it. The planet is hostile to life as we know it. Of the four terrestrial planets, Earth is the largest, and the only one with extensive regions of liquid water. Water is necessary for life as we know it, and life is abundant on Earth — from the deepest oceans to the highest mountains.

Like the other terrestrial planets, Earth has a rocky surface with mountains and canyons, and a heavy-metal core. Earth's atmosphere contains water vapor, which helps to moderate daily temperatures.

The gas giants of our solar system are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. These four large planets, also called jovian planets after Jupiter, reside in the outer part of the solar system past the orbits of Mars and the asteroid belt.

Stellification is a theoretical process by which a brown dwarf star or Jovian-class planet is turned into a star, or by which the luminosity of dim stars is greatly magnified. The inner planets, or terrestrial planets, are the four planets closest to the Sun: Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars.

A gas giant planet is large enough that it retains a lot of hydrogen and helium. A rocky planet is one with a solid surface. So inconspicuous that it was not discovered until , Pluto is not a gas giant planet like all the others in the outer solar system. The mostly rocky ones include Earth and three others Mercury, Venus, Mars that are more or less similar in interbal composition.

Begin typing your search term above and press enter to search. Press ESC to cancel. Skip to content Home Social studies What are the difference between inner planets and outer planets? Social studies. Ben Davis August 13, What are the difference between inner planets and outer planets? What do the inner and outer planets have in common? What are two similarities of the inner and outer planets?

What are the similarities of the planets? What are the similarities and differences of the three planets? What are the similarities and differences between terrestrial and jovian planets? What are the two main differences between the terrestrial and jovian planets?