Jupiter is by far the largest planet in the solar system. Its mass is equal to 318 times the mass of the Earth. It contains 70% of the total mass of all planets. Jupiter's volume, however, is even more impressive. The planet is approximately 1400 times larger than the Earth.
This means that its density is only approximately a quarter of that of the Earth. Jupiter is also the fastest of all planets and scores several other records. The rotation period of Jupiter is only ten hours. A day on Jupiter is thus 10 hours long. This fast rotation generates an extraordinarily strong magnetic_field. The fringes of the magnetic field reach as far as Saturn. The intensity of the field is ten thousand times higher than that of the Earth's magnetic field The "weather" on Jupiter is also greatly influenced by its fast rotation. Cloud belts divided into zones revolve around the planet at speeds up to 500 kilometers per hour. On most pictures of the giant planet, the "Great Red Spot" is clearly visible.
It is probably the largest and most powerful storm raging in our solar system. Its diameter is so large that the Earth would fit three times into the spot. The Great Red Spot protrudes several kilometers above the outer cloud layers of Jupiter. Over the last few years, astronomers observed that the Great Red Spot is not stationary but gradually moves across the planet's surface. This enormous storm is a long-lasting feature on the planet. It was already observed by astronomers more than 300 years ago. Jupiter emits more energy into space than it receives from the Sun. Its chemical composition resembles that of a star.
However, somehow Jupiter was prevented from entering the evolutionary cycle of a star. To become an actual sun, its mass would have to be at least one hundred times greater. The temperature on Jupiter is around minus 150┬░ Celsius. With a distance of 778 million kilometers from the Sun, it takes Jupiter approximately 11.9 years to complete an orbit about the Sun. The planet consists mainly of helium and hydrogen. At its interior, there is a rocky iron core, which is approximately 25,000 km wide and has a temperature of around 30,000┬░ Celsius.
