JUPITER
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest in our solar system. Its diameter is approximately 86,881 miles (139,822 kilometers), making it more than 11 times wider than Earth.
1. Composition:
- Jupiter is primarily composed of hydrogen (about 75%) and helium (about 24%), with trace amounts of other elements.
2. Atmosphere:
- The planet has a thick atmosphere with distinct cloud bands. These bands are created by powerful jet streams and represent different atmospheric layers.
- The Great Red Spot, a massive storm, has been raging for at least 350 years. It is an anticyclonic storm larger than Earth.
3. Magnetic Field:
- Jupiter has a powerful magnetic field, around 14 times stronger than Earth's. This field traps charged particles, creating intense radiation belts.
4. Moons:
- Jupiter has at least 79 known moons. The four largest, known as the Galilean moons, were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
5. Rings:
- Jupiter has a faint ring system composed mainly of dust particles. It's not as prominent as Saturn's rings, but they were discovered in 1979 by the Voyager 1 spacecraft.
6. Rotation and Day Length:
- Jupiter rotates rapidly, completing one rotation in about 9.9 hours. However, its equator rotates faster than its poles, causing the planet to bulge slightly.
7. Gravity:
- Jupiter's gravity is about 24.79 m/sยฒ, which is approximately 24.79 times stronger than Earth's gravity.
8. Influence on Solar System Dynamics:
- Due to its massive size, Jupiter has a significant impact on the dynamics of the solar system. It plays a crucial role in shaping the orbits of nearby planets and asteroids.
9. Exploration:
- Several spacecraft have visited Jupiter, including Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1 and 2, Galileo, and Juno. Juno, which arrived in 2016, is currently studying Jupiter's atmosphere, magnetic field, and composition.
#learnwithcoral
1. Composition:
- Jupiter is primarily composed of hydrogen (about 75%) and helium (about 24%), with trace amounts of other elements.
2. Atmosphere:
- The planet has a thick atmosphere with distinct cloud bands. These bands are created by powerful jet streams and represent different atmospheric layers.
- The Great Red Spot, a massive storm, has been raging for at least 350 years. It is an anticyclonic storm larger than Earth.
3. Magnetic Field:
- Jupiter has a powerful magnetic field, around 14 times stronger than Earth's. This field traps charged particles, creating intense radiation belts.
4. Moons:
- Jupiter has at least 79 known moons. The four largest, known as the Galilean moons, were discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.
5. Rings:
- Jupiter has a faint ring system composed mainly of dust particles. It's not as prominent as Saturn's rings, but they were discovered in 1979 by the Voyager 1 spacecraft.
6. Rotation and Day Length:
- Jupiter rotates rapidly, completing one rotation in about 9.9 hours. However, its equator rotates faster than its poles, causing the planet to bulge slightly.
7. Gravity:
- Jupiter's gravity is about 24.79 m/sยฒ, which is approximately 24.79 times stronger than Earth's gravity.
8. Influence on Solar System Dynamics:
- Due to its massive size, Jupiter has a significant impact on the dynamics of the solar system. It plays a crucial role in shaping the orbits of nearby planets and asteroids.
9. Exploration:
- Several spacecraft have visited Jupiter, including Pioneer 10 and 11, Voyager 1 and 2, Galileo, and Juno. Juno, which arrived in 2016, is currently studying Jupiter's atmosphere, magnetic field, and composition.
#learnwithcoral