wiki Word: Gas Giant

Definition: a large planet that is not primarily composed of rock or other solid matter

Gas giant planets are very different from the terrestrial planets (Earth, Mars, etc.) that you may be more familiar with. Gas giants don't have a definite edge because they're composed of gasses, mainly hydrogen and helium.The formation of gas giant planets occurs quickly after their stars are formed. These aren't planets that we would expect to find life on, because the conditions are unstable, there isn't actually a surface, and the winds are so fast that everything would be whipping around too fast to settle. Four of these gas giant planets are located in our solar system. These are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. One example of a gas giant outside of our solar system is TrES-4. The insides of these planets are so hot, that when the term "rocky core" is discussed, it is most likely referring to a concentration of heavy gasses at the core. They do sometimes have a solid core, though. Gas giants are also sometimes referred to as Jovian planets, because Jove is a Latin variation of Jupiter. Gas giants and brown dwarfs are similar, but not the same. They both have a high amount of methane gas present in them. A brown dwarf, however, isn't a planet. Shrinivas Kulkarni, talking about brown dwarfs, said "This is the first time we have ever observed an object beyond our solar system which possesses a spectrum that is astonishingly just like that of a gas giant planet."

The gas giants in our solar system.                        TrES-4, a gas giant that is not in our solar system.

 You hear things about space everywhere, on television, in the newspaper, in magazines, or just in general conversation. This is a well-known term, and knowing it may help you follow along with a documentary or conversation, and you might also impress someone with you knowledge!

REFERENCE LIST:

IMAGES:

1. http://pds.jpl.nasa.gov/planets/images/browse/jupiter/jupiter.jpg

INFORMATION:

1. "Gas Giant." Wikipedia. 29 Apr 2008 <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gas_giant>.

2.Staff Writers. "Gas Giants Jump Into Planet Formation Early." Space Daily. 09 Jan 2007. Space Daily. 29 Apr 2008 <http://www.spacedaily.com/reports/Gas_Giants_Jump_Into_Planet_Formation_Early_999.html>.

3. "Gas Giant." The Internet Encyclopedia of Science. 6 May 2008 <http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/G/gasgiant.html>.

4. "Discovery of A Brown Dwarf ." 9 May 2008 <http://www.seds.org/hst/95-48.html>.