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Jovian Planets
The four Jovian planets are in the likeness of Jupiter -- also called Jove, hence Jovian. Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are similar in mass, composition and other criteria. The Jovian planets are all larger and less dense than Earth, rotate faster than Earth, and are mainly comprised of gaseous substances -- primarily hydrogen.
Jupiter
Named after the chief Roman god, the planet Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. It is 1,316 times larger than Earth and is the fifth planet from the Sun. Jupiter's surface features gases such as hydrogen, ammonia, methane, nitrogen, helium and sulphur, and has no solid rock material. Apart from its size, it is distinguished by the multi-colored, layered appearance of its surface and a large red spot. Jupiter is approximately 483.6 million miles from the sun, 393.3 million miles from Earth.
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun and was named after the Roman agricultural god. Saturn's gaseous surface is varied with yellow-golden colorations. Its most distinguishing characteristic is a group of rings encircling the planet, 330 feet thick and 167,700 miles in diameter. Saturn is approximately 886 million miles away from the sun and 793 million miles from Earth.
Uranus
Uranus was named after the Greek god of the sky and is the seventh planet from the sun. Initially, Uranus was thought to be a comet when discovered in 1781. It is 15 times larger than Earth, slightly elliptical in shape, and is greenish in color. Uranus is 1.78 billion miles from the sun, 1.687 billion miles from Earth.
Neptune
Neptune is the eighth planet from the sun and was named after the Roman god of the seas. The planet is 17 times larger than Earth and is a vibrant blue color. It is 2.8 billion miles from the sun, 2.707 billion miles from Earth.
Pluto
Pluto -- named after Greek underworld god -- was discovered in 1930, and was classified as a planet shortly thereafter. However, in 2006, Pluto was officially reclassified as a plutoid, Kuiper belt object or, for common usage, a "dwarf planet" by the International Astronomical Union. Pluto is 3.67 billion miles from the sun, 3.577 billion miles from Earth.
Exoplanets
Exoplanets, also called extrasolar planets, are planets beyond our solar system. As of 2011, scientists have identified more than 400 extrasolar planets. These include 51 Pegasi b, which in 1995 was the first extrasolar planet discovered. It rotates around a star approximately 50 light-years from Earth. It is at least one-half the size of Jupiter and has a surface temperature of about 1800 degrees Fahrenheit.