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).

Core

Magnetic Field

20,000x more powerful than Earth.

Very powerful auroras.

Magnetosphere extends to Saturn.

Aurora (bigger than Earth)

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.

Io Volcanic Activity(Galilelo 1999)

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?)

Europa Lake? (depression found)

Ganymede

Largest moon in solar system (larger than Mercury).

Has its own magnetic field

Mainly ice and slush - but, metallic core?

Callisto

Extremely cratered and old.

Small craters mean likely current activity.

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.

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 (before)1994

After

Comet or Asteroid (2009)