Jupiter

  • Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest in the Solar System. A massive gas giant, Jupiter is more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined. Known for its powerful storms, iconic Great Red Spot, and extensive system of moons and rings, Jupiter plays a crucial role in the dynamics of the Solar System.

    Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest in the Solar System. A massive gas giant, Jupiter is more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined. Known for its powerful storms, iconic Great Red Spot, and extensive system of moons and rings, Jupiter plays a crucial role in the dynamics of the Solar System.

    1 General Properties

    PropertyValue
    Average Diameter~139,820 km
    Distance from the Sun~778 million km (5.2 AU)
    Orbital Period~11.86 Earth years
    Rotation Period~9 h 56 min (fastest of all planets)
    Moons95 confirmed (e.g., Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto)
    RingsYes – faint ring system
    Surface Gravity~24.79 m/s² (2.5× Earth)
    AtmosphereHydrogen (~90%), Helium (~10%)
    Temperature (cloud tops)~−145 °C


    2 Physical Characteristics

    Jupiter is a gas giant with no solid surface. Its atmosphere is dominated by colorful bands, zones, and massive storm systems.

    Key features include:

    • The Great Red Spot – a massive, persistent storm system larger than Earth
    • Zonal wind bands – alternating dark belts and light zones, driven by fast atmospheric circulation
    • Metallic hydrogen layer – inside Jupiter, hydrogen exists in a metallic liquid state due to immense pressure
    • Possible rocky core – may exist, but its exact structure remains uncertain

    Jupiter radiates more heat than it receives from the Sun, suggesting active internal processes.

Early Observations

Jupiter has been known since antiquity and was visible to all early civilizations. Galileo Galilei was the first to observe its four largest moons — now called the Galilean moons — in 1610, proving not all celestial bodies orbit Earth.

Space Missions

Several missions have visited Jupiter:

  • Pioneer 10 & 11 (1973–1974) – first flybys
  • Voyager 1 & 2 (1979) – captured detailed images of the atmosphere and moons
  • Galileo (1995–2003) – first orbiter; deployed a probe into Jupiter's atmosphere
  • Juno (2016–present) – current NASA orbiter studying Jupiter’s gravity, magnetic field, and internal structure

Future missions like ESA’s JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) and NASA’s Europa Clipper will explore Jupiter’s moons in greater detail.

Jupiter has 95 confirmed moons, including the four large Galilean moons:

  • Io – the most volcanically active body in the Solar System
  • Europa – ice-covered moon with a suspected subsurface ocean; top target in the search for life
  • Ganymede – the largest moon in the Solar System, larger than Mercury
  • Callisto – heavily cratered and possibly harboring an ocean beneath its surface

Smaller moons are grouped into several families and show signs of being captured asteroids or debris.

Jupiter is critical to understanding:

  • Gas giant formation and evolution
  • Atmospheric dynamics on a massive scale
  • Magnetospheric physics – Jupiter has the strongest magnetic field of any planet
  • The early Solar System – its gravity may have shaped planetary migration and protected inner planets

Jupiter’s powerful radiation belts and dynamic magnetosphere create challenges for spacecraft and opportunities for research.

Jupiter in Culture

Named after the king of the Roman gods, Jupiter has long been associated with power, authority, and dominance. It is a central figure in mythology, astrology, and science fiction. Its immense size and grandeur continue to fascinate and symbolize the vastness of the cosmos.

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