Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, more than 11 times the diameter of Earth, and is known for its powerful storms, including the iconic Great Red Spot—a massive, swirling storm that has raged for centuries. As a gas giant, Jupiter is composed mostly of hydrogen and helium and doesn’t have a solid surface like Earth or Mars. Its thick atmosphere is marked by bands of clouds that create stunning patterns of white, brown, orange, and red. Jupiter has a strong magnetic field and dozens of moons, including the four largest—Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto—known as the Galilean moons. These moons are fascinating worlds in their own right; for instance, Europa is believed to have a subsurface ocean that could potentially support life. Jupiter plays a crucial role in the solar system, its massive gravity helping to shape the orbits of other bodies and possibly protecting the inner planets from comets and asteroids.

More about Jupiter

Jupiter's immense size and mass give it the strongest gravitational pull of any planet in the solar system, second only to the Sun. This powerful gravity influences not just its many moons but also asteroids and comets passing through the solar system. The planet rotates extremely fast, completing one spin in just under 10 hours, which causes it to bulge at the equator and flatten at the poles. Jupiter’s atmosphere is incredibly dynamic, with powerful jet streams and violent storms that create its striking cloud bands and colorful appearance. One of the most intriguing aspects of Jupiter is its deep interior, which is thought to contain a dense core surrounded by layers of metallic hydrogen—a rare and exotic form of matter created by intense pressure. As spacecraft like Juno continue to study the planet, scientists hope to learn more about its structure, formation, and the role it played in shaping the early solar system.

Page updated

Report abuse