|
  Jupiter, the fifth planet from the Sun, is the largest planet in the solar
system. Jupiter is so big that over 1,000 planets the size of Earth could fit
into it. It has 17 moons and 2 rings.
Basic Facts
| |
Jupiter |
Earth |
|
Position from the Sun |
5 |
3 |
|
Diameter |
88,846 miles (142,984 km) |
7,926 miles (12,753 km) |
|
Moons |
17 |
1 |
|
Rings |
2 |
0 |
|
Average Distance from Sun |
484,000,000 miles (778,000,000 km) |
93,000,000 miles (149,000,000 km) |
|
Your Weight on the Planet |
Multiply your weight by 2.64 |
Multiply your weight by 1.0 |
|
Length of One Year |
12 Earth years |
1 Earth year |
|
Length of One Day |
9 hours and 55 minutes |
24 hours |
|
What’s in the Atmosphere? |
Hydrogen, helium |
Nitrogen, oxygen |
|
Temperature |
-220ºF (-140ºC) |
-128ºF to 136ºF
(-89ºC to 58ºC) |
Discovery
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, and it is one of the
brighter objects in the night sky. No one knows for sure who discovered Jupiter,
but we know the ancient Greeks named it after the god, Zeus.
Missions to Jupiter
|
Mission |
Launch Date(s) |
Mission Accomplishments |
|
Pioneer 11 (USA) |
April 6, 1973 |
Pictures of Jupiter and its Great Red Spot. |
|
Voyager 1 (USA) |
September 5, 1977 |
Photographs and information on Jupiter's many moons. |
|
Voyager 2 (USA) |
August 20, 1977 |
Found that Jupiter's Great Red Spot is really a complex storm.
Found
that Io, one of Jupiter's moons, has active volcanoes. |
|
Galileo (USA and Europe) |
October 18, 1989 |
Entered Jupiter's atmosphere. |
Interesting Facts About Jupiter
 | Largest planet in our solar system |
| Has the largest moon in our solar system |
| Shortest day |
| Largest storm (Great Red Spot) three times the size of Earth |
| Pressure on Jupiter is so great it would crush a spaceship |
|
