Jupiter

The fifth planet from the Sun and the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter orbits the Sun at an average distance of 5.2 time Earth's distance (about 465 million miles/745 million km). The planet has a mass 318 times the mass of Earth and a radius 11.2 times the radius of Earth. Jupiter is a gas planet and has no solid surface. It is made of hydrogen and helium, with trace amounts of ammonia, water vapor, and methane. The most recognizable features of the planet are its bands of clouds and a giant storm visible from Earth called the Great Red Spot. Jupiter has more than 60 known moons, the largest of which are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto.

Resources

Jupiter's Moons Jupiter has 62 known moons. The four Galilean...
Realm of the Giants The region beyond the asteroid belt is the realm...
Jupiter Weather systems on Earth blow themselves out in...

Radio Programs

More Moon and Jupiter The dusty space around Jupiter Sunday, May 12, 2013
Moon, Jupiter, and Aldebaran Jupiter’s large adopted family Monday, February 18, 2013
Moon and Jupiter II Lighting up the Christmas-night sky Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Moon and Jupiter Bright lights for Christmas Eve Monday, December 24, 2012
Jupiter at Opposition II Jupiter proves its superiority Sunday, December 2, 2012
Jupiter at Opposition A jovial denizen of the night sky Saturday, December 1, 2012
Moon and Jupiter Cloudy skies on a giant planet Thursday, November 1, 2012
Moon and Jupiter A planet that’s a gravitational powerhouse Thursday, October 4, 2012
Jovial Water Worlds Giant oceans around a giant planet Thursday, September 27, 2012
Moon, Jupiter, and Aldebaran The Moon takes a pounding Friday, August 10, 2012
Moon and Jupiter A giant planet’s disappearing heart Sunday, April 22, 2012
More Venus and Jupiter Worlds with and without companions Monday, March 12, 2012
Venus and Jupiter Following a pair of cosmic headlights Sunday, March 11, 2012
Moon and Planets III Artistry on a planetary scale Sunday, February 26, 2012
Moon and Jupiter The master of a busy domain Monday, January 2, 2012
More Moon and Jupiter Warming up a giant planet Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Moon and Jupiter Powering up a distant aurora Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Brilliant Jupiter Shining some light on a dark giant Thursday, October 27, 2011
Moon and Jupiter An ancient god and the modern calendar Thursday, September 15, 2011

Featured Images

Voyager 1 view of Jupiter's cloudsk
Artistic Clouds Thursday, November 1, 2012
Voyager mission enhanced-color image of Jupiter's Great Red Spot
Planetary Impressionism Sunday, February 26, 2012
Jupiter's Great Red Spot and the planet's four largest moons
An Eyeful of Moons Monday, January 2, 2012

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