Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, and the largest in the solar system ? more than twice as massive as the other planets combined.
For scale, Jupiter's Great Red Spot is about the size of Earth.
Jupiter's distance from the Sun is 5.2 times the Earth-Sun distance.
Jupiter's day lasts only 10 Earth hours; its year is 12 Earth years.
As a gas giant, Jupiter has no solid surface. It may have an Earth-sized core.
Jupiter's atmosphere is mostly hydrogen and helium.
As of July 2023, Jupiter had 95 moons.
The rings were spotted in 1979.
Seven robots flew past; two stayed in orbit.
Jupiter can't support life as we know it.
The Great Red Spot is a storm that has raged for more than 100 years.
Jupiter is a world of extremes. It's the largest planet in our solar system. If Jupiter was a hollow shell, 1,000 Earths could fit inside.
Jupiter also is the oldest planet, forming from the dust and gases left over from the Sun's formation 4.5 billion years ago. But it has the shortest day in the solar system, taking only 10.5 hours to spin around once on its axis.
The first detailed observations of Jupiter were made by Galileo Galilei in 1610 with a small, homemade telescope.
More recently, this planet has been studied by orbiters, probes, and spacecraft passing by on their way to other worlds. NASA’s Juno spacecraft currently is studying the giant planet from orbit. Europa Clipper will launch in October 2024 to study Jupiter's icy moon, Europa.
Jupiter has 95 moons that have been officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union.
But the number doesn't capture the complexity of the Jovian system of moons, rings and asteroids. The giant planet has thousands of small objects in its orbit.
Explore a curated collection of Jupiter resources, including activities that can be done at home, as well as videos, animations, posters, and online interactives.
These resources are suitable for educators, students, and anyone interested in learning more about Jupiter!
Europa Clipper will search for signs of potential habitability on Jupiter's icy ocean moon Europa.
NASA’s Juno Provides High-Definition Views of Europa’s Icy Shell
NASA’s Juno Mission Spots Jupiter’s Tiny Moon Amalthea
Jupiter’s Great Red Spot
A Moonlit Trio
Facts about Jupiter for kids.
Activities that can be done at home, as well as videos, animations, posters, and online interactives.
NASA database of images and videos of scientific interest.
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