Jupiter
The King of all the Planets
Next on our Destination….. JUPITER!!!
Welcome to Jupiter
Next on your Tour of the Planets so happens to be the largest of them all...
We have arrived at Jupiter with a distance of 483,500,000 miles away from the sun. Jupiter is the largest of all the planets in our solar system, that is why it is called the king of the planets. With a diameter of 88,846 miles, it is large enough to fit all the rest of the planets combined inside of it.
Wow Jupiter is BIG!
Here is to show you just how big Jupiter really is...
Jupiter’s Colorful Surface
Thick, colorful clouds of deadly poisonous gases surround Jupiter. The quick spinning of the planet whips up the atmosphere, creating the bands around the planet.
The Big Red Spot
Jupiter is known for its big red spot. This spot is a huge storm that has been continuously raging on for over 350 years. Winds inside this storm reach speed of about 270 miles per hour.
What the Weather is like on Jupiter!
Watch this video as we make our way closer to the raging storms of Jupiter…
What makes up Jupiter?
Jupiter is mostly made up of gas and liquid. Though not too much is known about the layers of Jupiter, it is accurate to say that the core contains the only solid material found in Jupiter. The core of Jupiter is estimated to be at least 17 times bigger than earth.
Trust or Myth: Is Jupiter an unsuccessful Star?
Jupiter has a liquid metal ocean (metallic hydrogen) at its center, surrounded by thousands of kilometers of hydrogen and helium - the same gases that surround the sun. Jupiter also has the strongest gravitational pull out of all the planets in the solar system; therefore, it has around 67 moons. Some refer to Jupiter along with its moons as mini solar system of its own. Because all of these things are true, it is said that Jupiter is a failed star. This is actually not true. It simply is not big enough, as well as it was not formed the same way that stars are formed. Looking at the picture above, you can see the comparison from the Sun to Jupiter. Jupiter is much smaller compared to our Sun. And, our sun is actually very small scaled to other stars.
Jupiter’s Moons
Jupiter is known for its many moons. It is estimated that Jupiter has around 67 moons. The top four largest are…. (from left to right) Io, Europa, Callisto, and Ganymede.
TASK
Be creative with this assignment. You are to draw, color, and design your own moons for Jupiter. Make sure you name them and label them in your journal.
Jupiter’s Moons Orbit
Take a closer look at this picture. This shows all the orbit patterns for all of Jupiter’s moons. It is super fascinating.
What about Jupiter’s Orbit?
Jupiter takes only 9 hours and 55 minutes to spin on its axis. This means a day on Jupiter is less than 10 hours long. Its fast rotation causes the planet to be squashed, being wider at the equator than from North to South. The earth takes 365 twenty-four-hour-days or one year to completely travel around the sun. Jupiter takes 11.9 years or approximately 4,344 twenty-four-hour-days to make it completely around the sun.
for touring Jupiter with us!
Thank you!
TASK: Now that we are done touring the planet Jupiter. You will draw and label a picture of Jupiter in your travel journal. You will also write one sentence about something new that you learned.