known satellites, four of which were observed by Galileo in 1610. These satellites are named Callisto, Europa, Ganymede and Io. There is a ring system and is totally invisible from the Earth. The rings were discovered in 1979 by Voyager 1. Jupiter’s atmosphere is somewhat like the Sun. It is composed mainly of hydrogen and

helium. Jupiter contains 90% hydrogen and 10% helium, with small amounts of methane, ammonia, water vapor and other compounds. Within Jupiter, the pressure is so enormous that the hydrogen atoms are broken up and the electrons are freed

so that the remaining atoms are bare protons. This results in hydrogen becoming metallic.

Colorful bands, atmospheric clouds and storms describe Jupiter’s weather systems. The cloud patterns change within hours or days. The

A large amount of glowing gas is wrapped around Jupiter’s north pole like a rope. This light, called an aurora, is produced when high energy electrons race along the planets magnetic field and into the upper atmosphere where they stimulate atmospheric gases, causing them to glow. Auroral emissions change in structure and brightness as Jupiter rotates.

Jupiter has a cluster of three white oval-shaped storms that lie southwest. In the center of these clouds, the air is rising, carrying fresh ammonia gas upward. White ice crystals form when the gas freezes as it reaches the top level of the clouds where the temperatures are -130°C (-200°F).

The outer layer is mainly composed of molecular hydrogen. Deeper in the planet of Jupiter, the hydrogen starts to look like a liquid, metallic hydrogen. Below this is a layer dominated by ice where “ice” indicates a thick liquid mixture of water, methane, and ammonia under high temperatures and pressures. At the center is a rocky ice core up to 10 Earth masses.

Great R

Some topics in this essay:
Amalthea Close, Galileo Galilei, Ganymede Io, Jupiter Jupiter, , Red Spot, Io Inside, Adrastea Metis, Jupiter Galilean, galilean moons, gossamer ring, thebe amalthea, magnetic field, methane ammonia, ring extends, ring system, miles jupiter’s, named callisto, Thebe Amalthea,