Jupiter, shown in Figure 25.19, is the largest planet in our solar system. Jupiter is named for the king of the gods in Roman mythology. Jupiter is truly a giant! The planet has 318 times the mass of Earth, and over 1,300 times Earths volume. So Jupiter is much less dense than Earth. Because Jupiter is so large, it reflects a lot of sunlight. When it is visible, it is the brightest object in the night sky besides the Moon and Venus. Jupiter is quite far from the Earth. The planet is more than five times as far from Earth as the Sun. It takes Jupiter about 12 Earth years to orbit once around the Sun.  Since Jupiter is a gas giant, could a spacecraft land on its surface? The answer is no. There is no solid surface at all! Jupiter is made mostly of hydrogen, with some helium, and small amounts of other elements. The outer layers of the planet are gas. Deeper within the planet, the intense pressure condenses the gases into a liquid. Jupiter may have a small rocky core at its center.  Jupiters atmosphere is unlike any other in the solar system! The upper layer contains clouds of ammonia. The ammonia is different colored bands. These bands rotate around the planet. The ammonia also swirls around in tremendous storms. The Great Red Spot, shown in Figure 25.20, is Jupiters most noticeable feature. The spot is an enormous, oval-shaped storm. It is more than three times as wide as the entire Earth! Clouds in the storm rotate counterclockwise. They make one complete turn every six days or so. The Great Red Spot has been on Jupiter for at least 300 years. It may have been observed as early as 1664. It is possible that this storm is a permanent feature on Jupiter. No one knows for sure.  Jupiter has lots of moons. As of 2011, we have discovered over 60 natural satellites of Jupiter. Four are big enough and bright enough to be seen from Earth using a pair of binoculars. These four moons were first discovered by Galileo in 1610. They are called the Galilean moons. Figure 25.21 shows the four Galilean moons and their sizes relative to Jupiters Great Red Spot. These moons are named Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. The Galilean moons are larger than even the biggest dwarf planets, Pluto and Eris. Ganymede is the biggest moon in the solar system. It is even larger than the planet Mercury! Scientists think that Europa is a good place to look for extraterrestrial life. Europa is the smallest of the Galilean moons. The moons surface is a smooth layer of ice. Scientists think that the ice may sit on top of an ocean of liquid water. How could Europa have liquid water when it is so far from the Sun? Europa is heated by Jupiter. Jupiters tidal forces are so great that they stretch and squash its moon. This could produce enough heat for there to be liquid water. Numerous missions have been planned to explore Europa, including plans to drill through the ice and send a probe into the ocean. However, no such mission has yet been attempted. In 1979, two spacecrafts, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, visited Jupiter and its moons. Photos from the Voyager missions  Saturn, shown in Figure 25.22, is famous for its beautiful rings. Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system. Saturns mass is about 95 times Earths mass. The gas giant is 755 times Earths volume. Despite its large size, Saturn is the least dense planet in our solar system. Saturn is actually less dense than water. This means that if there were a bathtub big enough, Saturn would float! In Roman mythology, Saturn was the father of Jupiter. Saturn orbits the Sun once about every 30 Earth years. Saturns composition is similar to Jupiters. The planet is made mostly of hydrogen and helium. These elements are gases in the outer layers and liquids in the deeper layers. Saturn may also have a small solid core. Saturns upper atmosphere has clouds in bands of different colors. These clouds rotate rapidly around the planet. But Saturn has
Jupiter , shown in Figure 25.19 , is the largest planet in our solar system . Jupiter is named for the king of the gods in Roman mythology . Jupiter is truly a giant ! The planet has 318 times the mass of Earth , and over 1,300 times Earths volume . So Jupiter is much less dense than Earth . Because Jupiter is so large , it reflects a lot of sunlight . When it is visible , it is the brightest object in the night sky besides the Moon and Venus . Jupiter is quite far from the Earth . The planet is more than five times as far from Earth as the Sun . It takes Jupiter about 12 Earth years to orbit once around the Sun . Since Jupiter is a gas giant , could a spacecraft land on its surface ? The answer is no . There is no solid surface at all ! Jupiter is made mostly of hydrogen , with some helium , and small amounts of other elements . The outer layers of the planet are gas . Deeper within the planet , the intense pressure condenses the gases into a liquid . Jupiter may have a small rocky core at its center . Jupiters atmosphere is unlike any other in the solar system ! The upper layer contains clouds of ammonia . The ammonia is different colored bands . These bands rotate around the planet . The ammonia also swirls around in tremendous storms . The Great Red Spot , shown in Figure 25.20 , is Jupiters most noticeable feature . The spot is an enormous , oval - shaped storm . It is more than three times as wide as the entire Earth ! Clouds in the storm rotate counterclockwise . They make one complete turn every six days or so . The Great Red Spot has been on Jupiter for at least 300 years . It may have been observed as early as 1664 . It is possible that this storm is a permanent feature on Jupiter . No one knows for sure . Jupiter has lots of moons . As of 2011 , we have discovered over 60 natural satellites of Jupiter . Four are big enough and bright enough to be seen from Earth using a pair of binoculars . These four moons were first discovered by Galileo in 1610 . They are called the Galilean moons . Figure 25.21 shows the four Galilean moons and their sizes relative to Jupiters Great Red Spot . These moons are named Io , Europa , Ganymede , and Callisto . The Galilean moons are larger than even the biggest dwarf planets , Pluto and Eris . Ganymede is the biggest moon in the solar system . It is even larger than the planet Mercury ! Scientists think that Europa is a good place to look for extraterrestrial life . Europa is the smallest of the Galilean moons . The moons surface is a smooth layer of ice . Scientists think that the ice may sit on top of an ocean of liquid water . How could Europa have liquid water when it is so far from the Sun ? Europa is heated by Jupiter . Jupiters tidal forces are so great that they stretch and squash its moon . This could produce enough heat for there to be liquid water . Numerous missions have been planned to explore Europa , including plans to drill through the ice and send a probe into the ocean . However , no such mission has yet been attempted . In 1979 , two spacecrafts , Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 , visited Jupiter and its moons . Photos from the Voyager missions Saturn , shown in Figure 25.22 , is famous for its beautiful rings . Saturn is the second largest planet in the solar system . Saturns mass is about 95 times Earths mass . The gas giant is 755 times Earths volume . Despite its large size , Saturn is the least dense planet in our solar system . Saturn is actually less dense than water . This means that if there were a bathtub big enough , Saturn would float ! In Roman mythology , Saturn was the father of Jupiter . Saturn orbits the Sun once about every 30 Earth years . Saturns composition is similar to Jupiters . The planet is made mostly of hydrogen and helium . These elements are gases in the outer layers and liquids in the deeper layers . Saturn may also have a small solid core . Saturns upper atmosphere has clouds in bands of different colors . These clouds rotate rapidly around the planet . But Saturn has
enormous storm on Jupiter
enormous storm on Jupiter
Great Red Spot
Great Red Spot