Solar System Astronomy

6.

Giant Planets: Outer Solar System

6.1.

6.1.1.

Physical Characteristics

6.1.1.1.

6.1.1.2.

Mass and Density

6.1.1.3.

6.1.1.4.

6.1.2.

Atmospheric Structure

6.1.2.1.

6.1.2.1.1.

Hydrogen and Helium Dominance

6.1.2.1.2.

Trace Compounds

6.1.2.2.

6.1.2.2.1.

6.1.2.2.2.

Ammonium Hydrosulfide Clouds

6.1.2.2.3.

6.1.2.3.

Atmospheric Dynamics

6.1.2.3.1.

Belts and Zones

6.1.2.3.2.

6.1.2.3.3.

Other Storm Systems

6.1.2.3.4.

Zonal Wind Patterns

6.1.3.

Internal Structure

6.1.3.1.

Core Composition Debate

6.1.3.2.

Metallic Hydrogen Layer

6.1.3.3.

Molecular Hydrogen Envelope

6.1.3.4.

Heat Generation

6.1.4.

6.1.4.1.

Powerful Magnetic Field

6.1.4.2.

Radiation Belts

6.1.4.3.

6.1.4.4.

Auroral Activity

6.1.5.

6.1.5.1.

Faint Ring Structure

6.1.5.2.

Ring Composition

6.1.5.3.

Discovery History

6.1.6.

6.1.6.1.

6.1.6.1.1.

Volcanic Activity

6.1.6.1.2.

6.1.6.1.3.

Sulfur Compounds

6.1.6.1.4.

Plasma Interactions

6.1.6.2.

6.1.6.2.1.

Subsurface Ocean

6.1.6.2.2.

Ice Shell Structure

6.1.6.2.3.

Surface Features

6.1.6.2.4.

Astrobiological Potential

6.1.6.3.

6.1.6.3.1.

Largest Moon in Solar System

6.1.6.3.2.

6.1.6.3.3.

Differentiated Structure

6.1.6.3.4.

Surface Geology

6.1.6.4.

6.1.6.4.1.

Heavily Cratered Surface

6.1.6.4.2.

Possible Subsurface Ocean

6.1.6.4.3.

6.1.7.

6.1.7.1.

6.1.7.2.

Irregular Satellites

6.1.7.3.

Trojan Asteroids

6.1.8.

Exploration Missions

6.1.8.1.

Pioneer Missions

6.1.8.2.

Voyager Encounters

6.1.8.3.

Galileo Orbiter

6.1.8.4.

6.2.

6.2.1.

Physical Properties

6.2.1.1.

6.2.1.2.

6.2.1.3.

6.2.1.4.

Internal Heat Source

6.2.2.

Atmospheric Features

6.2.2.1.

Composition Similar to Jupiter

6.2.2.2.

Banded Structure

6.2.2.3.

6.2.2.4.

Hexagonal Polar Feature

6.2.3.

Internal Structure

6.2.3.1.

6.2.3.2.

Metallic Hydrogen Layer

6.2.3.3.

Molecular Hydrogen Envelope

6.2.4.

6.2.4.1.

Magnetic Field Strength

6.2.4.2.

Radiation Environment

6.2.4.3.

Interaction with Rings and Moons

6.2.5.

6.2.5.1.

Extensive Ring Structure

6.2.5.2.

Ring Composition

6.2.5.2.1.

Water Ice Dominance

6.2.5.2.2.

6.2.5.3.

6.2.5.3.1.

Cassini Division

6.2.5.3.2.

6.2.5.3.3.

6.2.5.4.

6.2.5.4.1.

6.2.5.4.2.

Resonance Effects

6.2.5.4.3.

Spokes Phenomenon

6.2.6.

6.2.6.1.

6.2.6.1.1.

Dense Atmosphere

6.2.6.1.2.

6.2.6.1.3.

Surface Lakes and Rivers

6.2.6.1.4.

Organic Chemistry

6.2.6.1.5.

Astrobiological Interest

6.2.6.2.

6.2.6.2.1.

6.2.6.2.2.

Subsurface Ocean

6.2.6.2.3.

Tiger Stripe Features

6.2.6.2.4.

Potential Habitability

6.2.6.3.

6.2.6.3.1.

Herschel Crater

6.2.6.3.2.

Death Star Appearance

6.2.6.4.

6.2.6.4.1.

Two-Tone Coloration

6.2.6.4.2.

Equatorial Ridge

6.2.6.4.3.

Orbital Characteristics

6.2.7.

6.2.7.1.

Medium-Sized Moons

6.2.7.2.

Small Inner Moons

6.2.7.3.

Irregular Satellites

6.2.8.

Exploration History

6.2.8.1.

6.2.8.2.

Voyager Encounters

6.2.8.3.

Cassini-Huygens Mission

6.3.

6.3.1.

Unique Characteristics

6.3.1.1.

Extreme Axial Tilt

6.3.1.2.

Ice Giant Classification

6.3.1.3.

Retrograde Rotation

6.3.2.

6.3.2.1.

Hydrogen and Helium

6.3.2.2.

Water, Methane, and Ammonia Ices

6.3.2.3.

6.3.3.

Atmospheric Properties

6.3.3.1.

Methane Absorption

6.3.3.2.

Bland Appearance

6.3.3.3.

Seasonal Variations

6.3.3.4.

6.3.4.

Internal Structure

6.3.4.1.

Small Rocky Core

6.3.4.2.

6.3.4.3.

Hydrogen-Helium Atmosphere

6.3.5.

6.3.5.1.

Tilted and Offset

6.3.5.2.

Unusual Configuration

6.3.6.

6.3.6.1.

Narrow Dark Rings

6.3.6.2.

Discovery History

6.3.6.3.

Ring Composition

6.3.7.

6.3.7.1.

6.3.7.1.1.

Extreme Surface Features

6.3.7.1.2.

Coronae and Cliffs

6.3.7.1.3.

Geological History

6.3.7.2.

6.3.7.2.1.

6.3.7.2.2.

6.3.7.3.

6.3.7.3.1.

6.3.7.3.2.

Crater Populations

6.3.7.4.

6.3.7.4.1.

Largest Uranian Moon

6.3.7.4.2.

6.3.7.5.

6.3.7.5.1.

Heavily Cratered

6.3.7.5.2.

6.3.8.

6.3.8.1.

Voyager 2 Encounter

6.3.8.2.

Limited Ground-Based Observations

6.4.

6.4.1.

Physical Characteristics

6.4.1.1.

Ice Giant Classification

6.4.1.2.

Deep Blue Color

6.4.1.3.

Internal Heat Source

6.4.2.

Atmospheric Dynamics

6.4.2.1.

6.4.2.2.

Great Dark Spot

6.4.2.3.

Fastest Winds in Solar System

6.4.2.4.

Storm Evolution

6.4.3.

Internal Structure

6.4.3.1.

6.4.3.2.

6.4.3.3.

Hydrogen-Helium Atmosphere

6.4.4.

6.4.4.1.

Tilted Configuration

6.4.4.2.

6.4.5.

6.4.5.1.

Faint Ring Arcs

6.4.5.2.

6.4.5.3.

Shepherd Moon Effects

6.4.6.

6.4.6.1.

6.4.6.1.1.

Retrograde Orbit

6.4.6.1.2.

Captured Kuiper Belt Object

6.4.6.1.3.

Nitrogen Atmosphere

6.4.6.1.4.

Cryovolcanic Activity

6.4.6.1.5.

Surface Features

6.4.6.2.

6.4.6.2.1.

Highly Eccentric Orbit

6.4.6.2.2.

Irregular Shape

6.4.6.3.

Other Small Moons

6.4.7.

Discovery and Exploration

6.4.7.1.

Mathematical Prediction

6.4.7.2.

Voyager 2 Encounter

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