You are here

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 February 19, 2016
Jupiter

Jupiter February 10, 2016

Realm of the Giants June 10, 2010

Radio Programs

Moon and Jupiter A study in contrasts in the evening sky July 28, 2017

Moon and Jupiter Primetime on the really big screen June 30, 2017

Moon and Jupiter White ovals and red spots June 3, 2017

Moon and Jupiter Protection against a “dead zone” May 7, 2017

Moon and Companions Plotting the motions of a giant May 6, 2017

Moon and Jupiter Giving birth to giant worlds April 10, 2017

Jupiter at Opposition A giant showing for a giant planet April 7, 2017

Moon and Jupiter Gassing up for the outer solar system November 23, 2016

Loud Aurora Listening in on the planet Jupiter November 12, 2016

Moon and Jupiter Vacuuming up some trouble August 5, 2016

More Juno at Jupiter Probing the birth of the planets July 3, 2016

Juno at Jupiter Arrival at a bright, remote giant July 2, 2016

Moon and Jupiter Danger from giant volcanoes June 11, 2016

More Moon and Jupiter Gaining weight on another world May 15, 2016

Moon and Jupiter Entering Jupiter’s magnetic 'bubble'... May 14, 2016

Moon and Jupiter Jupiter throws around its weight April 17, 2016

Jupiter at Opposition III Jupiter’s not-so-great rings March 9, 2016

Jupiter at Opposition II Giant storms for a giant planet March 8, 2016

Jupiter at Opposition How to make a giant planet March 7, 2016

Moon and Jupiter The might of a giant planet — after this. February 23, 2016

Moon, Regulus, and Jupiter Powering up curtains of light February 22, 2016

Moon and Jupiter Dropping in on Jupiter December 30, 2015

Cloudy Skies Cloudy skies across the solar system December 27, 2015

Moon and Jupiter The master of a busy domain December 3, 2015

Moon and Jupiter Jupiter loses its status May 22, 2015

Moon in the Middle Passing through a bright triangle March 27, 2015

Moon and Jupiter Adding color to a giant planet March 1, 2015

Jupiter at Opposition A big showing for a big planet February 5, 2015

Brackets Bright lights bracket the evening sky January 31, 2015

Moon and Jupiter Measuring the solar system with a ruler December 9, 2014

Moon and Jupiter Clouds of dust around a giant planet November 12, 2014

Moon and Jupiter Traveling to a deadly planet October 14, 2014

Impact! Cosmic missiles slam into Jupiter July 15, 2014

Moon and Jupiter A study in contrasts in the evening sky May 31, 2014

Moon and Planets Squashing a giant planet May 30, 2014

Moon and Jupiter Building a solar system giant March 8, 2014

Moon and Jupiter Creating a powerful magnetic field February 9, 2014

Jupiter at Opposition Pacing off the distance to a giant January 4, 2014

Getting Close Snuggling close to two giants January 2, 2014

Moon and Jupiter Heating up a giant planet December 17, 2013

Pioneer 10 at Jupiter Going eye-to-eye with a giant December 2, 2013

Moon and Jupiter The king of the Olympics October 23, 2013

Journey’s End A long journey comes to an end September 20, 2013

Moon and Jupiter An adventure traveler’s idea of heaven August 29, 2013

Bright Contrasts Different worlds with a similar look May 26, 2013

More Moon and Jupiter The dusty space around Jupiter May 11, 2013

Moon, Jupiter, and Aldebaran Jupiter’s large adopted family February 17, 2013

Moon and Jupiter II Lighting up the Christmas-night sky December 24, 2012

Moon and Jupiter Bright lights for Christmas Eve December 23, 2012

Jupiter at Opposition II Jupiter proves its superiority December 1, 2012

Jupiter at Opposition A jovial denizen of the night sky November 30, 2012

Moon and Jupiter Cloudy skies on a giant planet October 31, 2012

Moon and Jupiter A planet that’s a gravitational powerhouse October 3, 2012

Jovial Water Worlds Giant oceans around a giant planet September 26, 2012

Moon, Jupiter, and Aldebaran The Moon takes a pounding August 9, 2012

Moon and Jupiter A giant planet’s disappearing heart April 21, 2012

More Venus and Jupiter Worlds with and without companions March 11, 2012

Venus and Jupiter Following a pair of cosmic headlights March 10, 2012

Moon and Planets III Artistry on a planetary scale February 25, 2012

Moon and Jupiter The master of a busy domain January 1, 2012

Featured Images

Juno view of the Great Red Spot; July 10, 2017

Red Eye July 16, 2017
Voyager 1 view of white oval storms on Jupiter

Jovian Pearls June 3, 2017
Io and Jupiter

Volcanic Connection May 7, 2017
Juno view of Jupiter's clouds

Jovian Swirls March 27, 2017
Jupiter above Europa

Water World July 8, 2016

Cloud Stripes June 26, 2016
Radio image of Jupiter

Jovian Radio June 7, 2016
Jupiter's Great Red Spot and surrounding cloud bands

Deep Surface May 15, 2016

Jovian Rings March 9, 2016
Auroras on Jupiterk

Polar Rings February 22, 2016
Artist's concept of Galileo Jupiter probe

Dropping In December 30, 2015
Cassini view of Jupiter from 6 million miles

Turbulent Giant February 6, 2015
Jupiter's radiation belts

Jovian Shields October 15, 2014
Hubble Space Telescope view of Jupiter, Ganymede

Layer-Cake Moon August 15, 2014
Artist's concept of comet impact on Jupiter

Strike One! July 16, 2014
Hubble views of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Shrinking Storm May 15, 2014
Voyager 1 view of Jupiter's cloudsk

Artistic Clouds November 1, 2012
Voyager mission enhanced-color image of Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Planetary Impressionism February 26, 2012
Jupiter's Great Red Spot and the planet's four largest moons

An Eyeful of Moons January 2, 2012
Artist's concept of Juno at Jupiter

Jumping Off for Jupiter August 5, 2011
Phobos, one of the moons of Mars, passes by the planet Jupiter.

Out of Order June 20, 2011
The aftermath of an asteroid impact in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter

Giant Scar September 20, 2010

High Lights January 17, 2010