About Space
JUPITER
Jupiter is more than twice as massive than the other planets of our solar system combined. The giant planet's Great Red spot is a centuries-old storm bigger than Earth.
This Hubble Space Telescope view of Jupiter, taken on June 27, 2019, reveals the giant planet's trademark Great Red Spot and a more intense color palette in the clouds swirling in Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere than seen in previous years.
On Dec. 4, 1973, NASA's Pioneer 10 spacecraft sent back images of Jupiter of ever-increasing size. Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to send back close-up views of Jupiter.
This image was taken in 1994 a little over an hour after a fragment of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 crashed into Jupiter. The inside edge of the dark outermost ring is about the size of Earth.
This Hubble Space Telescope view of Jupiter, taken on June 27, 2019, reveals the giant planet's trademark Great Red Spot and a more intense color palette in the clouds swirling in Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere than seen in previous years.
THE THINGS NEED-TO-KNOW ABOUT JUPITER
1
THE GRANDEST PLANET
Eleven Earths could fit across Jupiter’s equator. If Earth were the size of a grape, Jupiter would be the size of a basketball.
2
FIFTH PLANET FROM OUR STAR
Jupiter orbits about 484 million miles (778 million kilometers) or 5.2 Astronomical Units (AU) from our Sun (Earth is one AU from the Sun).
3
MASSIVE WORLD, LIGHT ELEMENTS
Jupiter's atmosphere is made up mostly of hydrogen (H2) and helium (He).
4
WORLDS GALORE
Jupiter has more than 75 moons.
5
SUPER STORM
Jupiter's Great Red Spot is a gigantic storm that’s about twice the size of Earth and has raged for over a century.
6
EXPLORING JUPITER
Nine spacecraft have visited Jupiter. Seven flew by and two have orbited the gas giant. Juno, the most recent, arrived at Jupiter in 2016.