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JupiterJupiter is the fifth-closest planet to the sun and the largest and oldest planet in the solar system. Named after the king of Roman gods, this gas giant is most easily recognized by its Great Red Spot—a hurricane-like storm larger than Earth that has existed for about 200 years. With more than twice the mass of all other planets combined, thousands of objects—including over 90 moons—orbit Jupiter.
As with all planets in our solar system, Jupiter formed from what remained of the cloud of gas that collapsed into the sun and protoplanetary disk. Large pieces of matter—called planetesimals—likely collided to form Jupiter within a few million years, fast enough to accumulate gas from the disk before solar winds blew it away.
Heat from Jupiter's core moves fluid in convection cells—hot gases rise, and cooler ones sink. The planet's rotation—the fastest in the solar system—spreads these rising and sinking fluids into east-west flows that wrap around it like global jet streams. The color of the flows results from differences in the convection cell temperature and composition, which vary across three distinct cloud layers.
Modeling Jupiter's interior using observational data suggests that gas gradually liquefies with depth until about 20,000 km, at which point immense pressure turns hydrogen into liquid metal.Explore Jupiter
What we've found
Observations of Jupiter's moons first demonstrated that light was not instantaneousIn 1676, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer noticed that eclipses of the moons occurred several minutes later when Earth and Jupiter were farther apart, reasoning that light needed more time to travel the greater distance. Lacking knowledge of Earth's orbital diameter, he was unable to calculate the speed of light. Las Cumbres ObservatoryViolent storms and crushing pressure await those inside Jupiter’s Great Red SpotAs seen from space, Jupiter’s most striking feature is an anticyclone 30% larger than Earth, with winds twice the speed of Category 5 hurricanes. The descent into the storm brings enough pressure to strip atoms of their electrons. 1440ESA’s Juice and NASA’s Europa Clipper will search for habitability near JupiterThree of Jupiter’s moons—Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto—possess subsurface oceans that may support life. While Clipper will perform flybys of Europa, Juice will be the first spacecraft to orbit a moon in the outer Solar System. ESAGalileo’s discovery of Jupiter’s moons led to multiple scientific advancementsBeyond challenging Earth-centric views upon their discovery in 1610, the Galilean moons were also later analyzed to contribute to early astrometry and astronomical interferometry. Measurements of eclipses were also used to estimate the speed of light. Galileo UnboundIo, Jupiter’s moon, is the most volcanically active body in the solar systemThe innermost and third-largest of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, Io’s volcanic activity is driven by tidal heating from Jupiter’s gravitational pull. Its atmosphere is very thin and primarily composed of sulfur dioxide, and its volcanic eruptions can exceed 1,000°C. The Planetary SocietyJupiter may have affected the trajectory of the asteroid that wiped out the dinosaursDespite its reputation as Earth’s cosmic shield, Jupiter’s gravity pulls more asteroids into Earth-crossing orbits. Simulations show that Earth experiences over three times more asteroid impacts because of Jupiter’s influence than if Jupiter didn’t exist. Big ThinkHot Jupiters are giant planets that orbit very close to their host starDiscovered in 1995, hot Jupiters are a class of exoplanets—planets orbiting stars other than the sun—with size and mass similar to Jupiter. They are most commonly found orbiting metal-rich stars and have become essential for testing theories of planetary system formation. Smithsonian MagazineJuno has revealed Jupiter’s polar cyclones, complex atmosphere, and diffuse coreThe continent-sized cyclones at Jupiter’s poles generate strong winds and ammonia-laden storms. The spacecraft has also collected data on Jupiter’s unique magnetic field, which resembles a blend of Earth’s and Uranus/Neptune's. Astronomy MagazineNASA's James Webb Space Telescope captures enormous aurora displays on JupiterThe auroras flicker faster and brighter than those seen on Earth. This contrasts with earlier predictions that the lights would fade slowly over several minutes, providing insights into how Jupiter's magnetosphere operates. James Webb Space TelescopeMetallic hydrogen exists in Jupiter and Saturn due to high pressure and temperatureThis state of hydrogen has metallic properties, including conductivity, which powers these planets' magnetic fields. First theorized in the 1930s, its existence was confirmed through indirect evidence before being created in a Harvard lab in 2017. Astronomy MagazineWhen it formed 4.5 billion years ago, Jupiter was twice its current sizeIts original size was deduced from the orbits of its moons, Amalthea and Thebe. The planet's magnetic field was also 50 times stronger than today, or 400 times stronger than Earth's. Live ScienceView a gallery of the best images of Jupiter from the Juno missionUsing the JunoCam, scientists have observed several of Jupiter's features, including cyclones, the Great Red Spot, and cloud bands and zones. The mission's effectiveness has resulted in its extension from July 2021 to September 2025. The Planetary SocietyAccording to the Grand Tack model, Saturn stopped Jupiter's inward migrationThe model suggests Jupiter migrated inward early in its formation and cleared debris from the inner orbits of terrestrial planets. Saturn's gravitational pull saved what was left of the inner solar system to form Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars. Science ChannelSome research suggests Jupiter formed near Uranus’ current orbit and migrated inwardScientists from the University of Zurich and NCCR PlanetS proposed the mechanism after using computer modeling to replicate Jupiter’s formation to match its observed concentration of heavy elements. The work may help understand how Jupiter-like exoplanets exist near host stars. Phys.orgJupiter’s size forced the creation of modified planetary formation modelsSince solar winds remove gases from protoplanetary disks within millions of years of a star’s birth, models needed to provide a mechanism to jump-start Jupiter’s formation and growth. The solution involved incorporating pebbles of matter into the disk. Discovery UKThe thousands of objects orbiting Jupiter include 95 officially recognized moonsJupiter's moons were first discovered on Jan. 7, 1610. They include Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system and larger than Mercury, Io, the most volcanically active moon, and Europa, which has a saltwater ocean. NASAThe Great Red Spot, Jupiter's largest storm, has existed for nearly 200 yearsDespite decreasing in size, the anticyclone remains larger than Earth, rotating with winds up to 933 km/h. Its longevity may be because it is trapped between two opposite-flowing jet streams, which act like two conveyor belts. Space.comJupiter’s formation included accretion and migrations across the solar systemOne theory of Jupiter’s formation involves the planet spiraling inwards from the asteroid belt, gathering material and disrupting the initial formation of terrestrial planets. Saturn’s gravitational pull would then reverse its course. BBC Earth ScienceIn 1994, fragments of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into JupiterHubble captured the collisions, which created massive black impact sites visible from space. It represented the first time scientists could prepare for and observe an interplanetary collision in real time, allowing them to gather valuable information about Jupiter’s atmosphere. NASA GoddardGalileo's Jupiter discovery shattered Earth-centered universe beliefsUsing a telescope inspired by Dutch designs, Galileo spotted four moons orbiting Jupiter in 1610, providing undeniable evidence against geocentrism and fueled support for the heliocentric model. Galileo’s original telescope design stretched 20 meters long—a feat of optical engineering for its time. SavanteumWatch a simulated flight through Jupiter's Great Red SpotSince its discovery over 350 years ago, the anticyclonic storm—with a high-pressure center and flows opposite to the low-pressure system underneath it—has fascinated astronomers due to its size, which is larger than Earth's, and its prominent features, including winds that surpass 250 miles per hour. Insider TechImages of Jupiter in unprecedented detailJupiter has never seemed closer and clearer than it does in these images gathered by the James Webb Telescope. Behold beautiful auroras, hazy clouds, and more. This may not be the classic image of Jupiter (and its stormy Great Red Spot) you're used to, but it tells scientist, and us, more about the largest planet in our solar system. NASAEverything you need to know about Jupiter, the gas giantNASA introduces you to the fifth planet from the sun, the gas giant Jupiter. When it comes to our solar system, Jupiter is the biggest kid on the block. Named after the king of the Ancient Roman gods, Jupiter is a planet of storms and chaos, most famously in its Great Red Spot, a hurricane larger than the earth itself. NASAAn exoplanet detection method involves measuring a host star's aurorasAstronomers have reported indirectly identifying a planet by observing its debris interacting with the magnetic field of the star it orbits. The interaction is a larger-scale version of the auroras observed on Jupiter, which are produced when material released by its moon, Io, interacts with the gas giant's magnetic field. Quanta MagazineThe sun and Earth's liquid outer core help create the northern and southern lightsEarth's magnetosphere, generated by the movement of molten iron deep within the planet, consists of a magnetic field that deflects charged particles north and south. Some of the particles released by the sun in the solar wind become trapped in this field and are propelled toward the poles, where they produce auroras through collisions with atmospheric particles. Be SmartAsteroids are the rocky remains of the solar system's formationThese celestial bodies were not integrated into the precursors of planets about 4.6 billion years ago and instead continue to orbit the sun, primarily within a band between Mars and Jupiter—the asteroid belt. Science ABCGravity assists are crucial for space travel beyond MarsBy traveling near a moving celestial object, a passing object can gain or lose speed and change direction due to the acceleration provided by their mutual gravity. Some missions are planned around spacecraft performing multiple assists, or slingshots, to reduce fuel requirements for long-distance travel. IFLScienceThe Oort Cloud is a shell of icy objects surrounding the solar systemProposed in 1950 by Jan Oort, the theoretical structure is believed to be the origin of comets with periods of more than 200 years. Leftover planetary building blocks from the early solar system formed the Oort Cloud after being flung out by the gravity of planets like Jupiter. Space.comComets can be categorized based on their orbital periodShort-period comets orbit around the sun once every 200 years or less and are made up of Jupiter-family (less than 20 years) and Halley-type (between 20 and 200 years) comet subgroups. Long-period comets have orbits greater than 200 years, while exocomets originate in solar systems outside our own. ESAVisualize the anatomy of a cometThe solid nucleus holds the frozen molecules, which are heated into a gaseous state once the comet is within three times Earth's distance from the sun. The surrounding coma, from which comets get their name, is a spherical cloud that can grow larger than Jupiter, from which tails develop. ESAThe names of the 12 months are (mostly) derived from the RomansJanuary is named after two-faced Janus, February stems from a festival known as Februa, March comes from the god of war, Mars, and so on. Learn the origins and see ancient statues or art for the inspiration for each name of the month. The British MuseumOne man in Arizona works to defend Earth from catastrophic space rocksDavid Rankin, an observer and operations engineer at the NASA-funded Catalina Sky Survey, spends his days scanning for solar system objects that could collide with our planet. The job requires employees to work long shifts to help prevent asteroids from destroying our planet. Smithsonian MagazineWith the exception of Earth, the planets are named after Roman gods and goddessesMercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are named after the messenger of the gods, the goddess of love, the god of war, the king of gods, the god of agriculture, the god of the sky, and the god of the sea, respectively. "Earth" comes from Old English and Germanic words meaning "ground." HISTORYThe solar system formed between 4.5 and 4.6 billion years agoIts age is best estimated by studying meteorites from the early formation period of the planetary system, including Erg Chech 002 (4.565 billion years old) and NWA 11119 (4.5648 billion years old). Solar analysis and stellar evolution models estimate the sun's age to be approximately 4.57 billion years. IFLScienceCongress settled for the Viking program after canceling the Voyager Mars programNASA's proposed Voyager missions to Mars and Venus in the 1970s were canceled due to budget cuts and the Apollo 1 fire. The Viking program's smaller scope—focused on data collection—was the economically viable alternative to manned Mars mission proposals. WIREDThe 'Celestial Police' accidentally discovered asteroids while planet huntingThe group was formed in 1800 to find a planet some astronomers believed existed between Mars and Jupiter. Prior to their disbanding in 1815, the group instead discovered Vesta, Juno, and other objects they would call asteroids. BBC Sky at Night MagazineAsteroids were discovered by 18th-century planet huntersWhile looking for a planet between Mars and Jupiter to coincide with an apparent mathematical pattern in the distances of known planets from the sun, a group calling themselves the "Celestial Police" discovered multiple objects that fell into a new classification. European Space AgencySome stars take longer to form than the current age of the universeThe first stars only burned for millions of years, providing the universe's first heavy elements. Some in the current population will burn for trillions of years, delaying the appearance of black dwarfs and other exotic cold stars. Smithsonian MagazineStudies show the asteroid that killed the dinosaurs was from the outer asteroid beltIsotopic evidence confirms the rock was a carbon-rich asteroid, likely born beyond Jupiter and later knocked into Earth's path after billions of years of orbital drift and gravitational nudges. Its path spanned over 4 billion years and ended in the extinction of 75% of life, including all nonavian dinosaurs. NautilusThe Hubble Space Telescope made discoveries within our solar system and across the universeThe observatory helped confirm the presence of water on Jupiter's moon, Europa, and uncovered seasonal variations on planets like Uranus. It also observed exoplanets and gravitational lensing, proved the existence of supermassive black holes at the centers of galaxies, and detected the accelerated expansion of the universe. BBC Sky at Night MagazineView a gallery of images taken by Voyager spacecraftThe images and videos include close-ups of Uranus, Jupiter's Great Red Spot, Saturn's ring system, and Neptune's Great Dark Spot. The Pale Blue Dot color image of Earth is included as part of the solar system's family portrait. NASAEuropa's deep ocean may hold the conditions needed to support alien lifeBeneath its frozen crust, Europa hides a salty ocean heated by tidal forces from Jupiter. This environment may resemble Earth's deep-sea hydrothermal vents and have allowed for the development of life over billions of years. V101 SPACE