Research Paper On Jupiter

When you look up at the night sky you see a moon in the midst of stars. After researching, maybe now you notice a moon, held up in an endless, black galaxy, with stars millions of miles away, shining so brightly we can inspect them here on earth. On a clear night if you look towards the right spot, you can view Jupiter. But, you cannot see its fine details or moons, or feel its harsh environment. Maybe you should try looking for Jupiter one night!

In 1610 an astronomer named Galileo discovered the gas giant, Jupiter, and its four largest moons, called the Galilean moons. Jupiter is the 5th planet from the sun and is covered in waaaaaaay below freezing, constantly moving clouds. The name Jupiter comes from the Roman’s god of gods- and rightly

Although, it is slower in orbiting the sun! Almost 12 earth years is only one year on Jupiter. Galileo sure did discover an interesting planet. Moving out of Jupiter and its atmosphere, approximately 666,870 miles away, is Jupiter’s 7th and largest moon, Ganymede. Ganymede is 3,268 miles in diameter, which is larger than Mercury and Pluto, and three quarters the size of Mars. In fact Jupiter has many moons which are so ginormous that if they orbited the sun, they would be classified as planets! Evidence from the space probe Galileo suggests that there may be an ocean of liquid water underneath the icy crust of Ganymede. It is believed that this moon is the first example of a moon with a magnetosphere in the solar system. It is also believed that this moon is the first example of a magnetosphere inside another magnetosphere. Then there is Callisto, Jupiter’s second largest moon. Approximately 2,983 miles across, Callisto is about the size of mercury and orbits 1,170,000 miles away from the gas giant,

Below these -250 degrees Fahrenheit clouds is an ocean of liquid hydrogen 13,000 miles deep. Then the pressure increases and the hydrogen turns to liquid metal, sort of like the mercury in a thermometer. This liquid metal could be as deep as 25,ooo miles. In the middle of Jupiter is its core, one and half times the size of earths diameter and it can reach up to 55,000 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hotter than the sun!! One of Jupiter’s baffling mysteries is an immense storm called the Great Red Spot. It is about 17,000 miles long and 9,000 miles wide, making it the largest storm in the solar system. So big, in fact, that you could fit three earths inside! The Great Red Spot was first seen through a telescope more than 300 years ago. It has shrunk or grown, and turned dull pink or bright red, but it has never changed position in 10 years. Scientists think this vast and powerful storm is 35o years old, with winds that reach up to 225 mph! The strongest hurricanes on earth have only reached 100 to 150 mph! Jupiter is definitely not a planet i would like to be stuck on.

Jupiter isn't the only fascinating planet. There are many more, some we don't even know about! But if you take time to examine these wonderful planets, stars, and constellations, just know that the tremendous, whirling planet of Jupiter is waiting out there