Both outer planets and inner globes share many features in common. They both orbit a star, but differ in size, number of moons, rings, and orbital speed. But these worlds have one thing in common: they are both round, have a core, and have gravity. Let’s find out how these planets differ and what makes them unique. Listed below are some common characteristics of outer and inner planets.
Earth
There are several differences between the inner and outer worlds. The inner worlds are smaller, solid, and have few or no moons, while the outer planets have larger, gaseous, and liquid atmospheres. In addition, the outer planets typically have ring systems and moons. The differences between inner and outer planets are most evident in the composition of the planets. The outer worlds are considered gas giants.
In astronomy, Earth is one of the inner planets. Venus and Mercury have closer orbits to the sun than Earth does. They always appear close to the sun in the morning and evening skies. The apparent angle from the sun is called its elongation. The outer worlds are closer to the sun, and are considered superior to the inner worlds. The Earth’s orbit is more closely aligned with the sun than the outer worlds’.
The inner planets, or terrestrial planets, are relatively closer to the Sun than their outer counterparts. They have smaller, rockier surfaces, and less atmosphere than the outer worlds. Earth has the only liquid oceans of all the inner planets. Other inner planets, including Mars and Venus, have thin to dense atmospheres. In addition to its inner planets, Earth is the only planet in our solar system with life that is known to exist there.
Mars
The size of the two largest planets in the solar system, Mars and Jupiter, explains their vastly different sizes. Earth has a radius of 6371 kilometers and its atmosphere is composed mostly of Hydrogen, Helium, and Methane. The surface temperature on Earth is approximately 800degF, while Mars’ surface temperature is around -290degF at night. Jupiter and Saturn complete one rotation in 58 days, while Mars completes its revolution every 687 days.
Similarly, Mars and Venus have atmospheres, while the outer planets contain mostly Hydrogen, Helium, and other gasses. Neptune and Uranus have significant amounts of methane. The inner planets tend to spin slower than their outer counterparts. The Earth takes 23 hours, 56 minutes to complete one rotation, while Venus takes 116 days and 18 hours to complete one rotation. Jupiter spins the fastest, taking only 9 hours, 56 minutes.
While Mars has a similar surface structure and composition to Earth, its atmosphere is much thinner, containing mainly carbon dioxide. The atmosphere of Mars also produces a weak greenhouse effect. Similarly, Mars has many similar features to Earth, including large shield volcanoes and mountain ranges. One mountain in particular is the largest in the solar system. While Mars’ atmosphere and surface are very different, many similarities between the two planets are evident.
Jupiter
The differences between Jupiter and Earth are quite significant. The jovian planets, as they are often called, are incredibly massive and are composed largely of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter, the largest of the gas giants, has a raging storm known as the Great Red Spot. Saturn is the jewel of the Jovian planets, while Uranus is a strange rocky body with a weird rotation axis.
The four outer planets are composed of mostly gases and are considered “gas giants.” The outer planets are relatively large and far from the sun. Because they are relatively heavy, they move very slowly and contain little liquid. Their average diameter is about 48000 km. Jupiter, inner planets and outer planets are quite different, and are not to be confused with each other. While the inner planets are made primarily of rock, the outer planets are composed mainly of gaseous materials. These planets are much bigger than the inner ones.
The formation of the solar system is an interesting experiment for astronomers. Conventional wisdom says that the young Sun blew gases into the outer rims, resulting in large gas giants and rocky planets. This may not be true. In some extrasolar systems, however, there are hot Jupiters that are very close to their Suns. And there are a variety of theories for how the inner planets formed.
Saturn
The planets of the solar system are largely made up of gases, including Earth. Saturn, the largest, has a ring system that could hold billions of Earths. Gas giants also create small moons and comets, which eventually orbit these massive bodies. As these bits of ice and rock orbit the gas giants, they gradually form rings. The gas giants’ massive gravity allows them to hold on to these rings, but otherwise the sun’s gravitational pull would destroy them.
The outer rings of Saturn are a spectacular sight from Earth. These rings are composed of countless tiny pieces of ice and rock that orbit Saturn, like moons orbiting our planet. The rings are remarkably flat, since all particles orbit in the same plane. And because they are so close to the planet, they are also above the clouds of the planet. But how do these rings work? How do they affect us?
The outer planets are grouped in four groups: the Sun, Uranus, and Pluto, and the smaller satellites of Mars, Venus, and Jupiter. The outer planets are the largest, and they are classified according to their mass and size. Their moons are smaller and icy, but their main bodies are rocky. But in the center of this miniature system is Saturn, which has more than 62 planetary bodies, including two moons, Europa and Titan.
Uranus
In addition to its ring system, Uranus is home to dozens of moons, which make it an interesting object to observe. The outer planet is tilted so that it is almost perpendicular to its orbit. This planet has 27 known moons, most of which were named after Shakespearean characters. Voyager 2 was the only spacecraft to visit Uranus and Neptune.
The main asteroid belt lies between the outer planets and the inner planets, separating them by more than a billion kilometers. The sizes of the inner planets and outer planets are based on their relative size to the sun. Uranus is an icy blue-green ball, whose color is attributed to the presence of methane in its mostly hydrogen-helium atmosphere. Scientists have speculated that it was knocked over by a planet-sized object billions of years ago.
Astronomers have observed Jupiter and Saturn for many years, but only in the past century have these outer planets been discovered. They are much closer to the sun, and have distinct characteristics. The inner planets are made primarily of rocks and minerals based on inorganic substances. Their mass is also lower, and they are mostly rocky. The outer planets have many moons, but only a few of them are actually inhabited.
Neptune
If you are wondering if Neptune is an inner planet or an outer one, then this article will help you to understand the difference between these two. The outer planets have their own atmospheres and are not known to have moons. The atmospheres of these planets are largely made of hydrocarbons, but other gases are also present. On the other hand, the atmospheres of the inner planets, such as Venus, contain significant amounts of methane.
Although both Neptune and Uranus are gas giants, the former is slightly larger and has a similar mass to the latter. Unlike Earth, Neptune is far from the Sun, where its surface temperature is minus 218 degrees Fahrenheit. Neptune’s slow orbit takes 165 years to complete once around the Sun. Neptune has an atmosphere made mostly of hydrogen and methane, but it also has a solid rock core.
Besides the moon, the inner planets have their own distinct personality. Mars, Mercury, Venus, and Earth are the four inner planets. They are more dense than their outer counterparts. Both have moons, but the inner ones are smaller. The outer planets are the most massive of the bunch, with dozens of satellites orbiting their surfaces. The outer planets, on the other hand, tend to be larger and more gas-filled than their inner counterparts.
Pluto
The outer planets are larger and have different orbits than the inner planets. Gas giant planets, like Pluto, are very similar to Earth, but their orbits are far from circular. The main element of these planets is hydrogen. Pluto is farthest from the Sun, with a closer orbit to Neptune. The differences between the outer planets and the inner planets include their size and atmospheres.
The inner planets are rocky and ice-covered, but they are not as solid as the outer planets. Their compositions are similar to those of terrestrial planets, but they’re much larger than the moons of Earth. As a result, they’re quite hot. The hot material in the interior escapes in a different manner. The moons of outer planets vary greatly in their geological features, with some having active volcanoes and others appearing like frozen liquid.
We know of eight or nine planets in the solar system. But there are about 24 other planetary bodies, including Pluto. The smaller inner planets are composed of silicate rock and metal, while the larger outer planets are largely composed of gas and ice. In addition to the main planets, outer planets also have large icy moon systems. Pluto, the smallest planet in the solar system, is similar in size and composition to the outer planet moons.