Planet Jupiter – Facts and Information

Statistics

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun, between Mars and Saturn. It is the largest planet in the solar system, having a diameter of about 88,846 miles, compared to Earth, which only has a diameter of 7,926 miles. Its average distance from the sun is 483,631,840 miles, one day is equal to nearly ten hours, and one year on Jupiter is equivalent to eleven years on Earth.

Composition

Jupiter, unlike Earth, is a gas planet, meaning that it does not have a solid surface like Earth. Its mass is composed of 89% hydrogen, 10% helium, and 1% other elements. These elements are compressed under Jupiter’s tremendous gravitational field, which causes heat to accumulate. The average temperature at the core is 43,000 degrees Fahrenheit.

The uppermost cloud layer contains traces of methane, ethane, ammonium-ice, oxygen, neon, water vapor, sulfur, and hydrogen sulfide. Beyond the outermost cloud layer, made of hydrogen and helium, is a layer of liquefied hydrogen and helium and a rocky core ten to fifteen times the size of the Earth.

Magnetic Field

Jupiter’s magnetic field is the strongest in the solar system, being 14 times as strong as Earths and only rivaled by the sunspots on the sun. Because of its interaction with the solar wind, the magnetic field is elongated on the side facing away from the sun, so much so that it extends into Saturn’s orbit.

Moons

Jupiter has 63 moons, the first four discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610, when he turned the first telescope to the night sky and noticed four moons orbiting the planet. These four moons are Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa.

Ganymede measures 3,269 miles in diameter and is the largest moon in the solar system. It is composed of silicon, rocky crust and a iron/sulfur molten core, all encased in a layer of ice. It is named after a Trojan boy carried away to be the cup bearer of the Greek mythological gods.

Callisto measures 2,982 miles in diameter, composed of 60% iron and 40% ice. It is named after a nymph in Greek mythology, loved by Zeus and hated by Hera, who changed her into a bear. Zeus placed her in the sky to become the constellation Ursa Major (the Big Dipper).

Io measures 2,255 miles in diameter, having an iron-sulfide core, and a volcanic surface with an atmosphere composed of sulfur dioxide. It is pockmarked with massive craters, calderas, and active volcanoes that spew molten rock 186 miles into space. Io is named after another woman Zeus adored, whom he transformed into a heifer (cow) to hider her from his jealous wife Hera.

Europa measures 1,949 miles in diameter and is covered with a thick layer of ice. Its most prominent feature is that it has criss-crossing streaks covering the entire surface, believed to be geysers. Scientists believe that the layer of ice covering the moon protects liquid water. Europa was named after a Phoenician princess, abducted by Zeus, who disguised himself as a bull. Europa gave birth to their child, Minos.

Appearance

Jupiter’s upper atmosphere is covered in clouds, traveling in horizontal bands across its mass, traveling parallel to the equator. Massive hurricane-like storms rage across the atmosphere, the most famous, called “The Great Red Spot”, has been continuous storm for over 400 years. It is located in the southern hemisphere just below the equator. Jupiter’s clouds range from white to dark brown, to red-orange in color.

Namesake

Jupiter is named after the Roman god, who was the equivalent of the Greek god Zeus. According to legend, he was the father of all the Roman gods, becoming their “king” after sending his father, Saturn, or the Greek god Cronos into exile.

Because Jupiter is the fourth brightest object in the sky, other cultures have adopted it as their god, like the Babylonians, who named it Marduk. Asian cultures, including the Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese call it the “Wood Star” as part of the Five Chinese Elements. The Germans called it Thor, their principle god, of which our fifth day of the week is named, Thursday.

References
“Jupiter”; AbsoluteAstronomy.com.
“Jupiter”; Nasa.gov.
“Jupiter”; Seds.org
“Jupiter”; Wikipedia.org
“Ganymede”; Nine-Planets.org.
“Callisto”; Nine-Planets.org
“Io”; Nine-Planets.org
“Europa”; Nine-Planets.org