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 Jupiter is so large that
all of the other planets in the
solar system could fit inside of it. Jupiter is a
large gas planet whose clouds change colours daily. This
planet is made mostly of hydrogen and helium gases. Jupiter gives off two times
more heat than it gets from the Sun. It shines very brightly in the night sky
for nine months of the year when it is closest to Earth. Huge areas of swirling
gases can be found in Jupiter's
atmosphere. The largest swirling area of gas is called
the Great Red Spot. Scientists believe this is a large hurricane-like storm which has lasted for hundreds of
years. Large bolts of lightning have also been seen in Jupiter's
atmosphere. Pictures taken by space probes have shown thin rings around Jupiter.
Jupiter has sixteen known moons (and may have more than
28!). One of Jupiter's moons, Io, has active
volcanoes on it. Areas on Io that are near the
volcanoes are very, very hot.
Jupiter has numerous
moons, which make the Jovian system much like a miniature Solar System. The four
largest - Io, Europe, Ganymede and Callisto - were discovered by Galileo in 1610
and are known as the Galilean
Satellites.
The other, smaller moons have
their orbits either between Jupiter and Io, or outside the orbit of Callisto.
The small outermost moons may be asteroids
captured by the gravitational pull of Jupiter.
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