Important notices
|
|
¡@
|
Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are the giant planets of our Solar System. The largest member Jupiter is 1,400 times bigger than the Earth. Even the lightest member Uranus is 14 times heavier than the Earth. Without a solid surface, these planets are mainly composed of hydrogen and helium gases. They are called the gas giants.
¡@
|
|
The latest Sky Show "Exploring Giant Planets" will take you to explore these giant neighbours. Through slides, special effects and computer animations, you can fly to Jupiter together with the Galileo and Cassini spacecraft to observe the enormous storm "Great Red Spot" which is two times wider than the Earth and has persisted for at least 300 years;
|
Jupiter
|
|
Jupiter's satellite Io
|
or you may admire the beautiful rings of Saturn to see how icy rocks form the ring system; or venture to Jupiter's satellite Io to experience a hell of continual volcanic eruptions; or land on the methane ocean of Saturn's satellite Titan to feel the environment where life first formed on Earth.
|
|
Besides, you may venture to the polar areas of Uranus where darkness prevails for decades or take a free ride with the strongest storm in the Solar System on Neptune with a wind speed of 2,000 km per hour and admire the strange scenery of diamonds falling down from the sky of Uranus and Neptune.
¡@ |
Uranus
|
|
Studying these giant planets and their weird satellites helps us understand not only the formation of the Solar System but also the planetary systems of extrasolar worlds. |
|
Scale of the nine planets of the Solar System
¡@
|
|
The Cassini spacecraft will release a Hyugens probe to land on Saturn's largest satellite Titan in January 2005.
¡@
|
The Cassini spacecraft will arrive at Saturn on July 2004
and begin its 4-year mission.
|
¡@
Photo courtesy:
NASA
¡@
|
|
)
)
)
)
)
)