what separates the inner planets from the outer planets
Outer Planets. The next four planets out from the sun are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are collectively referred to as the Jovian planets (means Jupiter like). They are significantly different from the terrestrial planets. Besides being farther from the sun, the Jovian planets are much larger, are more gaseous, have lower densities, and all have some sort of rings. Their large sizes are responsible for increased gravity which can hold onto lighter elements like gases. A belt of asteroids (fragments of rock and iron) between Mars and Jupiter separate the four inner planets from the five outer planets. Pluto, which fits in with neither the terrestrial or the Jovian planets, is actually considered a Kuiper Belt object which we will see in more depth on the Kuiper Belt page.