Page 143 - DK Children's Encyclopedia

Jupiter SEE ALSO

▸ ▸ Astronomy p.32
▸ ▸ Atmosphere p.33
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system, and ▸ ▸ Elements p.90
the fifth planet from the sun. It is a “gas giant” made ▸ ▸ Gases p.117
of hydrogen and helium. Jupiter does not have a ▸ ▸ Solar system p.233

solid surface like Earth. ▸ ▸ Solids p.234

▸ ▸ Storms p.246

King of the planets
Jupiter is so large that 1,300
Earths could fit inside it. A
huge storm in its atmosphere,
called the Great Red Spot, is
more than twice the size
of Earth. Jupiter is the
third brightest object in
our night sky after the
moon and Venus.

Scientists have
been watching
the Great Red
Spot storm
since 1830.

Winds swirling
around the
Great Red Spot
reach speeds of more
than 250 mph
(400 kph). The striped bands and
swirls are shaped by
strong winds.

The Galilean moons
Jupiter has more than 60 moons
of different sizes. Its four largest
moons are called Io, Europa,
Ganymede, and Callisto. They are
known as “the Galilean moons”
because they were discovered by
the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei
in the 17th century. Io Europa Ganymede Callisto

141

US_141_Jupiter.indd 141 16/05/2017 09:48