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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 Floating through the clouds of Jupiter August 21, 2021

Bookends Bright bookends in the early evening August 15, 2021

Moon and Planets Slowing down some spinning giants July 24, 2021

Juno Arrives Celebrating five years at Jupiter July 4, 2021

Moon and Planets Rounding off Jupiter’s orbit May 30, 2021

Second Storm A storm with an amazing history April 25, 2021

Changing Spot A changing “spot” on a giant planet April 24, 2021

Moon and Jupiter Snowballs that pack a wallop April 6, 2021

Mercury and Jupiter Crossing paths in the dawn sky March 2, 2021

Jupiter and Saturn Giant planets snuggle up December 1, 2020

Saturn at Opposition II Planets head into reverse July 20, 2020

Saturn at Opposition The solar system’s runner-up July 19, 2020

Jupiter at Opposition II A big new storm joins the club July 13, 2020

Jupiter at Opposition The giant influence of a giant planet July 12, 2020

Moon and Jupiter A system of watery worlds June 7, 2020

Moon and Jupiter The king of the Olympics May 11, 2020

Moon and Planets A bright lineup in the dawn sky March 16, 2020

More Venus and Jupiter Powerful lights on a giant planet November 24, 2019

Moon and Jupiter Smacking into a giant planet October 30, 2019

Moon and Jupiter Rings around a giant planet September 5, 2019

Moon and Jupiter Blasting a giant planet July 13, 2019

Jupiter at Opposition III A big move for a giant planet June 11, 2019

Jupiter at Opposition II Dissolving the heart of the giant June 10, 2019

Jupiter at Opposition Lining up a brilliant planet June 9, 2019

Moon and Planets Growing giants beyond the snow line April 23, 2019

Morning Lights Lighting up the dawn of the new year December 31, 2018

Moon and Jupiter Spinning up a giant planet September 13, 2018

Moon and Jupiter Giant Jupiter fades a bit June 23, 2018

Moon and Jupiter Hefty storms for a hefty planet May 27, 2018

Moon, Jupiter, Spica Restructuring planetary systems May 26, 2018

More Jupiter Getting rid of Jupiter’s red “eye” May 8, 2018

Jupiter at Opposition A planet with a giant personality May 7, 2018

Moon and Jupiter A shoving match in the early solar system April 29, 2018

Moon and Jupiter Peering into the heart of a giant April 2, 2018

Moon and Planets Hazards to planetary navigation January 10, 2018

Moon and Jupiter Adding to a big family of moons August 25, 2017

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

Featured Images

the clouds of jupiter

Inhospitable Clouds August 21, 2021
Juno spacecraft view of Ganymede

Close Visit June 11, 2021
Juno at Jupiter

Keeping Track May 30, 2021
Juno view of Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Oval BA

Double Storms April 25, 2021
artist's concept of high-altitude lightning on jupiter

Stormy Giant April 6, 2021
Infrared view of Jupiter

Blazing Giant May 9, 2020
Ganymede and Jupiter

Complicated Moon January 21, 2020
Artist's concept of a small planet smacking into the young Jupiter

All Mixed Up October 30, 2019
Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Shrinking Spot August 9, 2019
Shoemaker-Levy 9 takes aim at Jupiter

Taking Aim July 13, 2019
View of Jupiter's southern hemisphere from June, February 2019

Artistic Giant June 9, 2019
Cyclones at the north pole of Jupite

Cyclone Haven May 27, 2018
Hubble view of Jupiter, 2014

Beautiful Giant May 7, 2018
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