Jupiter

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and is the fifth planet from the sun. It is actually about 11 times larger than Earth. In reality, this planet is larger tan all the other planets out together. The date received from space probes lead scientists to believe that at its core, Jupiter has a temperature of more than 30,000ºC/54000ºF, while at the surface the temperature is -120ºC/-184ºF. The gravity of this planet is 1.33 times that of earth so a person weighing 1oo pounds on Earth would weigh 265 pounds on Jupiter.

When you look at Jupiter through a telescope, you will se bands and stripes covering its surface as well as other markings. These bands rotate around the planet at different speeds. This tells scientists that the atmosphere around Jupiter is not frozen, but is fluid. In the southern tropical zone, there is a strange red spot that was first discovered in 1873. Scientists have no idea what this spot may be, but suggest it could be a rotating weather disturbance that remains in the same place. A smaller red spot was photographed in the northern tropical zone.

The atmospheres surrounding Jupiter is 82 % hydrogen, 17% helium and 1 % of an unknown gas. There are also ammonia crystals in the surrounding clouds. Clouds surround the entire planet and are bands of weather. They change color when the atmosphere rises and falls, turning white or gray when it is rising and red, orange or brown when it is falling.

Below the surface, Jupiter is mostly liquid hydrogen, with the inner core consisting of liquid metallic hydrogen. It is also possible there may be a small core of rock.

Jupiter has 13 moons, 4 of which can be seen through binoculars. They revolve around the planet in almost circular orbits at regular spaces apart. Its magnetic field is much stronger than that of Earth and actually extends out from the planet by as much as 6.5 million miles. The planet is also a source of radio waves caused when the radiation from the sun hits the magnetic field. The radiation spirals forward emitting the waves.