Planet Jupiter Basics Cheat Sheet

1. Overview of Jupiter

• Position in Solar System: 5th planet from the Sun
• Distance from Sun: ~778.5 million km (5.2 AU)
• Orbital Period: 11.86 Earth years
• Rotation Period: 9.9 hours (Fastest spinning planet)
• Diameter: 142,984 km (11 times Earth’s size)
• Gravity: 24.8 m/s² (2.5 times Earth’s)
• Temperature:
  • Cloud Tops: -145°C (-234°F)
• Moons: 95 (Confirmed, as of 2023)
• Atmosphere: Hydrogen (90%) and Helium (10%)

2. Key Characteristics

• Gas Giant: Composed mainly of hydrogen and helium, lacking a solid surface.
• Largest Planet: Accounts for more than twice the mass of all other planets combined.
• Color Bands: Created by ammonia clouds in different atmospheric layers.
• Axial Tilt: 3.13° (Minimal seasons).
• Wind Speeds: Exceed 600 km/h (373 mph) at the equator.

3. The Great Red Spot

• Massive Storm: Larger than Earth.
• Active for Over 350 Years: Winds reach up to 432 km/h (268 mph).
• Shrinking: Gradually decreasing in size but remains prominent.

4. Rings of Jupiter

• Faint and Thin: Made of dust, not ice (unlike Saturn’s).
• Main Components: Halo ring, main ring, and two gossamer rings.
• Formation: Created by dust from meteoroid impacts on Jupiter’s inner moons.

5. Orbital and Rotational Facts

• Fast Rotation: Causes the planet to bulge at the equator and flatten at the poles.
• Orbital Speed: 13.1 km/s
• Synodic Period (Visible from Earth): 13 months

6. Atmosphere and Climate

• Composition:
  • 90% Hydrogen
  • 10% Helium
  • Trace amounts of methane, ammonia, and water vapor
• Cloud Layers:
  • Ammonia Crystals: White zones
  • Ammonium Hydrosulfide: Reddish-brown belts
• Lightning: 1,000 times more powerful than Earth’s.

7. Internal Structure

• Core: Possibly rocky and metallic, surrounded by metallic hydrogen.
• Metallic Hydrogen Layer: Generates a strong magnetic field.
• Outer Layers: Molecular hydrogen and helium.

8. Moons of Jupiter

• Galilean Moons (Largest and Most Famous):
  • Io: Volcanically active, hottest moon in the solar system.
  • Europa: Covered in ice with a subsurface ocean (potential for life).
  • Ganymede: Largest moon in the solar system, larger than Mercury.
  • Callisto: Heavily cratered, possibly with subsurface oceans.
• Other Moons: Small irregular moons captured by Jupiter’s gravity.

9. Exploration of Jupiter

• Pioneer 10 & 11 (1973-74): First flybys.
• Voyager 1 & 2 (1979): Detailed images of Jupiter and its moons.
• Galileo (1995-2003): Orbited Jupiter for 8 years.
• Juno (2016 – Present): Currently studying Jupiter’s atmosphere, magnetic field, and interior.
• Future Missions:
  • Europa Clipper (2024): Focus on Europa’s habitability.
  • JUICE (ESA, 2023): Exploring Ganymede, Europa, and Callisto.

10. Interesting Facts

• Largest Magnetic Field: 20,000 times stronger than Earth’s, extending far beyond Saturn’s orbit.
• Auroras: Massive auroras at Jupiter’s poles, fueled by volcanic activity on Io.
• Gravitational Influence: Protects inner planets by deflecting comets and asteroids.
• Shortest Day: Jupiter’s rotation is the fastest of all planets, completing a day in just under 10 hours.

11. Why is Jupiter Important?

• Solar System Formation: Jupiter’s composition reflects the early solar nebula.
• Protective Barrier: Acts as a shield, diverting or capturing comets that could threaten Earth.
• Potential for Life: Europa and Ganymede may harbor life in their subsurface oceans.

12. Key Measurements

13. Jupiter in Mythology and Culture

• Named After: Jupiter, the Roman king of gods (Greek: Zeus).
• Symbol: ♃
• Astrological Significance: Associated with growth, abundance, and luck.
• Cultural References: Frequently appears in mythology, literature, and science fiction (e.g., 2001: A Space Odyssey).

14. Differences Between Jupiter and Earth

15. Can Jupiter Support Life?

• Surface: No solid surface – composed entirely of gas.
• Moons (Potential for Life): Europa and Ganymede have subsurface oceans beneath their icy crusts, making them prime candidates for extraterrestrial life.