It is fascinating for everyone including kids to learn about interstellar space and to be specific our own galaxy, the Milky Way and of course the whole solar system in itself. Today we are here to discuss the planet Jupiter and to learn what is inside Jupiter.
Before getting into any further details, let us understand and know more about the Jupiter planet. Jupiter is the fifth planet from our Sun and is by far, the largest planet in the solar system, which is followed by Saturn. It is a gas giant with a mass more than two and a half times that of all the other planets in our Solar System. The most fascinating thing is that it is slightly less than one one-thousandth the mass of the Sun.
Facts about Jupiter planet:
Here is some information about the Jupiter planet: Jupiter has these cold stripes that swirl around it, it contains storms like windy clouds of ammonia and water, floating in the atmosphere of hydrogen and helium. It is extremely hot inside Jupiter. Jupiter consists predominantly of hydrogen and helium. While the exact temperature remains, uncertain scientists speculate that the core of Jupiter could reach around 43,000°F (24,000°C). On the surface of Jupiter and on Earth these elements are merely gases.
Also Read : Top 10 amazing fun facts about Jupiter
Jupiter is about 4.603 billion years old and has a density of 1.33 g/cm³. The Radius of the plant is 69,911 km. It holds a gravity of 24.79 m/s². The moons of Jupiter are: Europa, Ganymede, Io, Callisto, Jupiter LXI, Amalthea, and 89 more to name. The giant planet commands thousands of small objects in its orbit. Jupiter has a total of 95 moons, but none of them capture the complexity of the Jovian system of the moons, rings and asteroids.
So, one may ask what it is like inside the Jupiter planet? Jupiter’s structure and composition resemble that of the Sun primarily consisting of hydrogen and helium. As you delve deeper into its atmosphere the pressure and temperature rise cause the hydrogen gas to compress into a liquid state forming huge oceans. This unique phenomenon grants Jupiter the distinction of having the largest ocean in our solar system, an ocean composed of hydrogen instead of conventional water elements.
Curiosity tends to point towards a question asked very often, is there anything solid Inside of Jupiter planet? Well, according to most theories, Jupiter’s solid core of ice, rock, and metal grew from a nearby collection of debris, icy material, and other small objects such as the many comets and asteroids that were zipping around four billion years ago. Jupiter has a dense core of heavy elements that were formed during the early solar system.
Inside Jupiter planet
So, one might want to know if it is possible to see inside Jupiter. Although Juno has captured dramatic images of the swirling clouds on Jupiter, it has also made some surprising findings that are not visible. Juno, a solar-powered NASA spacecraft, cannot allow scientists to examine Jupiter’s core due to the intense pressures inside the planet, making it impossible to see inside.
Also Read : How the Sun powers our planet and the basics of solar energy
Jupiter itself does not support life as we know but researchers have found that some of Jupiter’s moons have oceans below their surface which raises the possibility of life in the oceans below the crust. Jupiter is primarily composed of gas and liquid with dense matter beneath the gas and liquid. Jupiter’s upper atmosphere is composed of about 88–92% hydrogen and 8–12% helium by percent volume of gas molecules, and approximately 75% hydrogen and 24% helium with the remaining one percent consisting of other elements.
The Jupiter storm: Some astronomers noted a prominent reddish spot on the giant planet called The Great Red Spot. It has been there for a while, but scientists still struggle identifying what causes its swirl of reddish hues. Even after 300 years the Great Red Spot still remains present in Jupiter’s atmosphere. It was later discovered that the spot is a vast Jupiter storm, which is spinning like a cyclone. In the high-pressure regions in the atmosphere of Jupiter the Great Red Spot is pretty persistent, and continues to produce an anticyclone storm that is the largest in the whole Solar System. The spot is located 22 degrees south of Jupiter’s equator and it produces wind-speeds that go up to 432 km/h.
The Great Red Spot of Jupiter is a storm spanning twice the width of Earth as it revolves around the planet within its southern hemisphere. At the present rate of reduction, the Jupiter storm will become circular by 2040. Scientists do not know how long the spot will last, or whether the change is a result of normal fluctuations. Scientists discovered in 2019 that fragments of the storm started breaking off and dissipating from the edge of the Great Red Spot.
Also Read : Science For Kids: How astronauts live and work in space
Here are some fun facts about the planet Jupiter.
Jupiter holds the title of being the planet with the fastest rotation speed. Its immense size allows it to attract a large amount of mass as it moves through space. Additionally, Jupiter’s distance from the Sun plays an important role in shaping its characteristics. Being five times further away from the Sun than Earth Jupiter takes considerably longer to complete an orbit. In fact, a year on Jupiter spans 11.8 Earth years due to this increased distance from our star. This combination of size and orbital length contributes to Jupiter’s status as a gas giant in our system.
- Jupiter orbits the sun in 11.8 years to 12 years.
- Jupiter has rings, but they are too faint to see.
- Jupiter is the 5th planet from the Sun in our Solar System.
- Jupiter has 95 moons.
- Jupiter is a Gas Giant.
- The gas giants rotate really fast.
- Jupiter is the biggest planet in our Solar System.
- It takes Jupiter just 10 hours to complete one rotation.
Also Read : The technology behind spacesuits and why astronauts need them
All this information is so fascinating, and at EuroSchool, we ensure our students learn about all the planets and the solar system in itself. We encourage children to learn more about the Jupiter planet, about the inside of Jupiter planet, and about the Jupiter storm. We want children to be able to explore their options, and we allow them to be as inquisitive as they can be because it is through a child’s curiosity that we explore more and discover more. As Juno’s many discoveries have changed our view of Jupiter’s atmosphere and interior, revealing an atmospheric weather layer that extends far beyond its water clouds and a deep interior with a dilute heavy element core, we hope to provide the opportunity to every student to make wondrous discoveries like these about what is inside Jupiter and beyond.
