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Jupiter and Saturn

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There appear on the surface of Jupiter certain bands darker than the rest of the disc, and they do not always preserve the same form...

Christiaan Huygens, 1698

Questions to Explore:
  • Why are the densities of Jupiter and Saturn so low compared with the terrestrial planets?
  • What makes the cloud patterns of Jupiter and Saturn so colorful and complex?
  • Why are the interior structures of Jupiter and Saturn so different from those of the terrestrial planets?
  • How did Jupiter and Saturn evolve to their present form?
  • What is the source of the internal energy radiated away by Jupiter and Saturn?
  • Why are the rings of Jupiter and Saturn so thin compared with their diameters?
  • How can we account for the complex structure of the rings of Saturn?







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