Characteristics of Jupiter
By:Shamma Al Housani
Fact 1
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system.
Fact 2
Jupiter helped revolutionize the way we saw the universe and ourselves in 1610.
Fact 3
Jupiter is the most massive planet in our solar system, more than twice as massive as all the other planets combined
Fact 4
The colorful bands of Jupiter are arranged in dark belts and light zones created by strong east-west winds in the planet's upper atmosphere traveling more than 400 mph (640 kph).
Fact 5
The most extraordinary feature on Jupiter is undoubtedly the Great Red Spot, a giant hurricane-like storm seen for more than 300 years.
Fact 6
Jupiter's gargantuan magnetic field is the strongest of all the planets in the solar system at nearly 20,000 times the strength of Earth's.
Fact 7
Jupiter spins faster than any other planet, taking a little under 10 hours to complete a turn on its axis, compared with 24 hours for Earth.
Fact 8
Jupiter broadcasts radio waves strong enough to detect on Earth.
Fact 9
Atmospheric composition (by volume): 89.8 percent molecular hydrogen, 10.2 percent helium, minor amounts of methane, ammonia, hydrogen deuteride, ethane, water, ammonia ice aerosols, water ice aerosols, ammonia hydrosulfide aerosols
Fact 10
Magnetic field: Nearly 20,000 times stronger than Earth's
Fact 11
Chemical composition: Jupiter has a dense core of uncertain compistion, surrounded by a helium-rich layer of fluid metallic hydrogen, wrapped up in an atmosphere primarily made of molecular hydrogen.
Fact 12
Internal structure: A core less than 10 times Earth's mass surrounded by a layer of fluid metallic hydrogen extending out to 80 to 90 percent of the diameter of the planet, enclosed in an atmosphere mostly made of gaseous and liquid hydrogen