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Jupiter
Largest planet with 4 large moons (Galilean) - miniature solar system (64 moons altogether).
Similar to star in composition – if 50x more massive, it would be a star.
Basics
Diameter = 10x size of Earth (1,320 Earths fit in Jupiter!)
Mass = 2.5x mass of all other planets together
Rotation = ~10 hoursRevolution = ~12 years
Temperature = -234 0F
Atmosphere
Mostly hydrogen (90%) and helium (10%).
Deep in atmosphere, hydrogen gas turns into a metallic liquid (20 K)… “holy grail of high pressure physics”.
At center, likely solid core (rock/ice).
Magnetic Field
20,000x more powerful than Earth.
Very powerful auroras.
Magnetosphere extends to Saturn.
Moons
Four large moons - accreted in situ (in place).
-- Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto
64 moons in total.
Io
Most volcanically active body in solar system.
Jupiter’s gravity causes tides in solid surface that rise and fall 300’.
These tides generate heat for volcanism.
Europa
Surface is mostly water ice. Has solid core.
May be covering an ocean of water or slush.
Twice as much water as Earth.
Possible breaks in ice mean water may reach surface (life?)
Ganymede
Largest moon in solar system (larger than Mercury).
Has its own magnetic field
Mainly ice and slush - but, metallic core?
Rings
Likely the result of meteroid impacts on moons.
Dust only lasts 100 to 1,000 years… spirals down to Jupiter
Continuously replaced.
Storms
Outer atmosphere divided into several bands at different latitudes.
Turbulence and storms along boundaries.
Clouds are ammonia
Storms
Orange and brown caused by upwelling phosphorous(?), sulfur(?) or hydrocarbons(?).
Great Red Spot - since at least 17th c.
Has travelled around planet several times.