Jupiter
Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, a massive gas giant with colorful bands and the iconic Great Red Spot—an enormous storm twice Earth's size.
- Distance from Sun: ~778 million km
- Diameter: 139,820 km
- Orbital period: 12 Earth years
- Mean cloud top temperature: -145°C
- Moons: At least 79 (most famous: Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto)
- Key Feature: The Great Red Spot – a giant storm for hundreds of years
Quick Facts
Jupiter's immense gravity influences the orbits of other planets and kept the early solar system from falling apart. Its four largest moons are Earth-sized worlds with their own unique geology—Europa might even hide an ocean beneath its icy crust.