The Basics of Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, with a diameter of 139,822 kilometers. It is the fifth planet from the sun and takes 11.86 Earth years to complete a revolution around the sun. Jupiter’s composition is primarily hydrogen and helium, with small amounts of other compounds. It has the most extensive system of moons among the planets in our solar system, with 79 known moons.

Exploring Jupiter’s Atmosphere

Jupiter’s atmosphere is characterized by the Great Red Spot, a massive storm larger than the size of Earth. The planet’s atmosphere is composed mainly of hydrogen gas, with some helium and small amounts of methane, ammonia, and water vapor. Scientists study the planet’s atmosphere to understand the patterns of weather systems and gain insights into the early stages of our solar system’s formation.

Missions to Jupiter

Several space missions have been sent to Jupiter over the years. In 1973, Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to fly by Jupiter, followed by Pioneer 11 in 1974. Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 also flew by Jupiter in 1979 on their way to exploring the outer solar system. More recently, the Juno spacecraft has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, sending back stunning images and data about the planet’s atmosphere and interior.

Discovering Jupiter’s Moons

Jupiter has 79 known moons, the four largest of which are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Ganymede, the largest moon in our solar system, is even larger than the planet Mercury. These moons have their unique features, including volcanoes on Io and possible subsurface oceans on Europa and Ganymede. The study of these moons provides further insight into the formation and evolution of the solar system.