The Majesty of Gas Giant Planets
A brief look at Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune
When we hear the term Gas Giants, our minds race directly to several planets located within our Solar System, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. These planets share several defining characteristics that allow them to be lumped together into the same category. In particular, it is the high percentage of helium and hydrogen within their over-all composition that places them apart from other more terrestrial solar bodies. However, the term Gas Giant is a bit misleading in that it tells us very little about the actual composition of these unique worlds.
Gas giants are composed of a high percentage of solid material. Due to the extreme pressure that exists within the core of a gas giant, hydrogen may be converted into a metallic solid or liquid form. Frequently, there are other materials interspersed within this solid matrix as well. Although all gas giants contain high amounts of hydrogen and helium within their overall composition, they may also contain heavier materials such as methane and ammonia. The differences in composition can tell us a great deal about the circumstances under which each planet formed.
Within our solar system, only Saturn and Jupiter are considered true gas giants. Neptune and Uranus are now categorized as ‘ice giants’ since…
