Subsection 12.1.3 Jupiter
Jupiter [Figure 12.1.6] is the largest planet in our solar system and the fifth planet from the Sun. It is located between the orbits of Mars and Saturn. It has a diameter of 86,881 miles (139,822 kilometers) and is a gas giant planet, meaning that it is primarily composed of hydrogen and helium gas, with no solid surface. Jupiter is known for its distinctive colorful bands of clouds, which are caused by strong winds in its atmosphere that blow in opposite directions at different latitudes. It also has a giant red spot, a massive storm that has been raging for over 300 years. Jupiter’s strong gravitational pull has also led to the discovery of many small, rocky asteroids and comets that are captured in its orbit. Jupiter has been studied extensively by spacecraft, including NASA’s Voyager 1 and 2 missions, as well as the Galileo spacecraft, which orbited the planet from 1995 to 2003. The Juno spacecraft, launched by NASA in 2011, is currently in orbit around Jupiter, studying its atmosphere, magnetic field, and interior structure.
Jupiter has more than 79 known moons, the largest of which is Ganymede, which is even larger than the planet Mercury. The most famous moon of Jupiter is probably Europa, which is known for its potential subsurface ocean and the possibility of harboring extraterrestrial life. Other notable moons of Jupiter include Io, Ganymede, and Callisto.
Jupiter has a system of rings, but they are not as prominent or well-known as the rings of Saturn. Jupiter’s rings are composed of small particles of rock and dust, and there are four main ring groups: the halo ring, the main ring, the Amalthea gossamer ring, and the Thebe gossamer ring. These rings are thought to be formed by dust kicked up from impacts on nearby moons, and they are constantly being replenished by new dust from these sources. The rings of Jupiter are much fainter and harder to see than the rings of Saturn, and were discovered in 1979 by the Voyager 1 spacecraft.
