Jupiter is covered in thick clouds.
NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Jupiter is a gas giant planet. Of the four gas giants, Jupiter is closest to the sun.
shooarts/Shutterstock.com
As the largest of all eight planets, Jupiter is the “king” of the solar system.
Ivy Close Images/Alamy Stock Photo
Jupiter is so large that you could fit more than 1,300 Earths inside of it!
Tristan3D/Shutterstock.com
When energy from the sun hits Jupiter, it can create bright lights around the planet’s north pole.
NASA, ESA, and J. Nichols (University of Leicester)
Jupiter’s clouds have cold regions and hot spots. The swirling clouds form layers.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Alex Mai
Jupiter has several layers. Its outer layer is made of gas, but inner layers are made of liquid hydrogen.
D’Arco Editori/De Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images
The Juno spacecraft is orbiting Jupiter. It will help scientists discover what is under Jupiter’s clouds.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
This image shows Jupiter and its moon Io. Io has more volcanoes than any other object in the solar system.
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Jupiter’s moon Europa has an ocean under its crust. Scientists think life may even exist on Europa!
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI Institute
Where is Jupiter?
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the sun.
It takes almost 45 minutes for light to travel from the sun to Jupiter. It takes only 8 minutes for sunlight to reach Earth.
It takes almost 45 minutes for light to travel from the sun to Jupiter. It takes only 8 minutes for sunlight to reach Earth.
Jupiter is covered in thick clouds.
NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Jupiter is a gas giant planet. Of the four gas giants, Jupiter is closest to the sun.
shooarts/Shutterstock.com
Why is it called Jupiter?
Jupiter is the biggest planet in the solar system. It is named after the king of all the Roman gods.
As the largest of all eight planets, Jupiter is the “king”
of the solar system.
Ivy Close Images/Alamy Stock Photo
How big is Jupiter compared to Earth?
Jupiter is 11 times wider than Earth.
Jupiter is so large that you could fit more than 1,300
Earths inside of it!
Tristan3D/Shutterstock.com
What does Jupiter look like?
Jupiter has swirling clouds of white, brown, red, and yellow gas. It almost looks like it has stripes.
The temperature in Jupiter’s clouds is about –234 degrees Fahrenheit (–148 degrees Celsius). Its core is believed to be even hotter than the sun, however!
The temperature in Jupiter’s clouds is about –234 degrees Fahrenheit (–148 degrees Celsius). Its core is believed to be even hotter than the sun, however!
When energy from the sun hits Jupiter, it can create bright
lights around the planet’s north pole.
NASA, ESA, and J. Nichols
(University of Leicester)
Jupiter’s
clouds have cold regions and hot spots. The swirling clouds form layers.
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Alex
Mai
What is it like on the surface of Jupiter?
Jupiter is a gas giant. It has an atmosphere of hydrogen and helium surrounding the planet. You would not be able to breathe
on Jupiter!
You probably wouldn’t be able to stand on Jupiter, either. Scientists believe Jupiter does not have a solid surface like Earth does. If you went to Jupiter, you would sink through its clouds. As you get closer to Jupiter’s core, the clouds get denser, or more pressed together.
You probably wouldn’t be able to stand on Jupiter, either. Scientists believe Jupiter does not have a solid surface like Earth does. If you went to Jupiter, you would sink through its clouds. As you get closer to Jupiter’s core, the clouds get denser, or more pressed together.
Jupiter has several layers. Its outer layer is made of
gas, but inner layers are made of liquid hydrogen.
D’Arco Editori/De
Agostini Picture Library/Getty Images
The
Juno spacecraft is orbiting Jupiter. It will help scientists discover what is under Jupiter’s clouds.
NASA/JPL-Caltech
Fun Facts about Jupiter
Jupiter has more than 90 moons. Its biggest moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto. Ganymede is the biggest moon in
the solar system. It is even bigger than the planet Mercury.
There is a storm on the surface of Jupiter called the Great Red Spot. The Great Red Spot is bigger than the planet Earth! The storm has existed for more than 400 years.
There is a storm on the surface of Jupiter called the Great Red Spot. The Great Red Spot is bigger than the planet Earth! The storm has existed for more than 400 years.
This image shows Jupiter and its moon Io. Io has more volcanoes
than any other object in the solar system.
NASA/JPL/University
of Arizona
Jupiter’s moon Europa has an ocean under its crust.
Scientists think life may even exist on Europa!
NASA/JPL-Caltech/SETI
Institute
Article Citation in MLA (Modern Language Association) Ninth Edition format:
"Jupiter." Report Builder, Gareth Stevens Publishing, garethreportbuilder.com/article/230/jupiter. Accessed 12 Mar 2025.
