The characteristics that the outer planets have in common include their large size and their large number of moons when compared with the inner, or terrestrial, planets. They also lack solid surfaces, and as far as astronomers know, none are capable of supporting life. read more
The four inner planets are much closer to the sun than the outer planets, so they receive considerably more light and are consequently much warmer. None of the four inner planets have rings, while all four outer planets do. In contrast to the gas planets, the four terrestrial planets all have thin, tenuous atmospheres. read more
Astronomers have divided the eight planets of our solar system into the inner planets and the outer planets. The 4 inner planets are the closest to the Sun, and the outer planets are the other four – Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The outer planets are also called the Jovian planets or gas giants. read more