Interesting Facts About Jupiter, the Largest Planet of Our Solar System (Part I)

It’s the biggest planet in our solar system.

Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and is roughly 461.7 million miles (743 million kilometers) from it. It takes 43 minutes for light to reach here from the sun. It’s of the same age as the birth of our Solar System which is around 4.5 billion years. Here ammonia storms float in the environment along with helium. It has many natural moons, and here we have created a list of a few interesting facts about Jupiter.

Jupiter has Many Moons 

While for our earth there is only one moon, you will be surprised to know that Jupiter has many moons. 

Imagine seeing more than 50 moons in the sky on a clear night. Though it’s not possible as the earth has got  only one moon. Jupiter, which is the largest planet in our system, has many moons. At present scientists have found around 79 (26 of these are provisional) moons of Jupiter which may be part of Jupiter millions of years ago. Most of the moons of Jupiter are small sized and the largest four are collectively called the Galilean satellites, and their names are Ganymede, Europa, Io, and Callisto. These four moons got this from famous astronomer Galileo Galilei in 1610.

Jupiter Is Massive

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system but just saying it’s the largest planet does not do justice to its massive size.

Everyone knows that Jupiter is the largest planet in the Solar System. But this description is not enough to describe its massive size. For example, the mass of Jupiter is 318 times more massive than the Earth. In reality, Jupiter is 2.5 times bigger than all of the other planets in the Solar System combined. Astronomers and space researchers have made an assessment that Jupiter could end up with 4 times its current mass and still remain about the same size. To make you understand in a simple way to describe its size is that more than 1,300 earths can fit into it.  Isn't this an interesting fact about this massive planet?

A Storm in Jupiter has Raged for Hundreds of Years 

Imagine a storm that has been raging for hundreds of years and there is a sign that it will stop anytime soon.

This must be the most intriguing fact on this list, the scientists at NASA have discovered that the ‘Great Red Spot’ on Jupiter is actually many hundred years old giant storms in the atmosphere of Jupiter. It’s not sure when the storm started but, surely, it’s very old. It’s similar to hurricanes on earth but it’s so large that two earths can fit into it. Just imagine how big this ‘Great Red Space’ storm is.