Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. Thus, its gravity is enormous, its magnetic fields cause chaos to its moons (e.g. Io). Jupiter is a ball of gas, held together by its own gravity. The clouds present on Jupiter comprise ammonia and ice. Jupiter is made up of mostly hydrogen and helium. Its pressure below cloud level is 1 million times that of Earth at sea-level. This is caused by the massive over-lying layers of gas. The lower layers of hydrogen are compressed into a liquid metal which generates Jupiter’s magnetic field. It has rings which are made up of rock and other microscopic materials. Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is an area on Jupiter where storms the size of Earth exist.
Jupiter produces its own energy unlike Earth which is totally dependent on the sun. Jupiter does so through its pressure which compresses the gas and heats it up (gas heats up upon compression and cools upon expansion). The heat generated which bounces upward interacts with the heat from the sun coming downward. This causes disturbance in the atmosphere which forms hurricanes and other types of storms. The storms and clouds change the outer appearance of Jupiter. Scientists also believe that Jupiter could have almost been a sun, but did not have enough mass to undergo nuclear fusion.
Geography:
- Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system.
- Her pressure below cloud level is 1 million times that of Earth at sea-level. This is caused by the massive layers of gas piling on the surface of Jupiter.
- Storms form when the heated gases come into contact with the sun’s heat. The storms and clouds change the outer appearance of Jupiter.
- Jupiter’s Great Red Spot is an area on Jupiter where storms the size of Earth exist. The storms stay for the whole of Jupiter’s year, every year
- It has a thick atmosphere of Hydrogen and Helium
- It has distinct layers of clouds of ammonia ice, ammonium hydrosulfide and a mixture of ice and water.
- Jupiter has 3 divisions of rings
Anatomy:
- Jupiter is 318 times the size of Earth
- It does not have a solid surface, or a crust. Jovian planets, or gas giants like Jupiter only has gas layers which get denser with depth.
- It has a rocky core comprised of liquid metallic hydrogen. It is in a liquefied state and the metallic hydrogen generates Jupiter’s extremely strong and extensive magnetic field
- It has no mantle.
Chemical composition:
- Jupiter is a ball of gas, held together by its own gravity.
- Jupiter is made up of mostly Hydrogen and Helium.
- Clouds of ammonia ice and water ice are present
- Jupiter’s gravity is enormous.
- The lower layers of hydrogen is compressed into a liquid metal which generates Jupiter’s magnetic field.
- Jupiter produces its own energy unlike Earth which is totally dependent on the sun. Jupiter does so through its pressure from its own immense gravity which compresses the gas and heats it up (gas heats up upon compression and cools upon expansion). This process of independent energy generation is known as the Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism
- Jupiter has rings made up of rock and other microscopic materials.
- Jupiter is known as the “failed star” as if she was a little bigger, her gravity would be strong enough to bring about the high pressure and heat needed for nuclear fusion.
- Jupiter is 90% hydrogen and 10% helium, with methane, water, ammonia and rock.
- Jupiter has faint rings
Climate:
- Jupiter possesses high velocity winds churned up by its own heat (to cooler areas), and a great deal of storms
- Jupiter’s interior is rather warm due to intense atmospheric pressure, at 21 degree Celsius, while its cloud temperature is –140 degree Celsius
- Jupiter has a strong magnetic field
Moons: 63 (in total)
Io is a volcano furnace. Volcanic eruptions form craters, volcanic vents, sulfuric lakes and raised lands. There is no water on Io. Io contains thousands of active volcanoes which spews sulfur and sulfur dioxide hundreds of kilometres into the atmosphere. It is the only extraterrestrial object (moon) so far to possess active volcanism. Io has a magnetic field.
Europa is a very special moon. It has abundant oxygen in its atmosphere as well as water. The oxygen is formed when the ice water evaporated and split into oxygen and hydrogen by other charged particles in the atmosphere and the hydrogen escapes. Vast caps of ice on Europa could mean a large ocean underneath. Europa also has a weak magnetic field, conducted from Jupiter’s. The magnetic field might also be partially generated from its metallic core. Volcanism is believed to exist on Europa. Europa is the only place besides Earth to hold a great possibility of life.
Ganymede is the largest natural satellite in our universe. It is roughly larger than Mercury and much larger than Pluto. Although it is big, it is less than half of Mercury’s mass. Ganymede possesses a tiny iron core, a mantle and an icy crust. It has an atmosphere containing oxygen too. Ancient ridges, craters and grooves can be found here. They suggest past tectonic activities. Ganymede has a magnetic field.
Callisto is made up of mainly rock, iron and ice. Its surface is covered with craters. Cracked up craters suggest unknown underground forces at work. Callisto has an atmosphere containing a percentage of carbon dioxide. Callisto too has a magnetic field conducted from Jupiter’s. Plate tectonics is not present on Callisto.
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