Jupiter
The king of the Solar System, a gas giant
Summary
Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System, 2.5 times the combined mass of all the other planets. Because it is a gas giant it has no solid surface; it has a thick atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. Its most famous feature is the Great Red Spot, a giant storm that has lasted for centuries.
In depth
Jupiter has 318 times the mass and 1,300 times the volume of Earth. Its atmosphere, mostly hydrogen and helium, extends thousands of kilometres deep. At its centre lies compressed metallic hydrogen and possibly a rocky core. The Great Red Spot has been observed for at least 350 years: a storm larger than Earth, with winds of up to 600 km per hour. Jupiter has 95 known moons (as of 2024); the largest four (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto) are known as the Galilean moons. Galileo Galilei discovered them with a telescope in 1610, overturning the Aristotelian idea that everything circles the Earth. Europa may harbour life in an ocean beneath its ice; NASA's Europa Clipper mission is on its way, due to arrive in 2030.
Rate Jupiter
What did you think of this content? Click the stars to leave your rating.
Leave a Comment and Rating