THE SCIENCE OF JUPITER

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The largest planet in our solar system, Jupiter is a giant ball of gas 300 times more massive than earth. It’s five times farther from the Sun than we are. A year on Jupiter is twelve times longer than ours, but a Jovian day is only ten hours long. Darting around it are dozens of moons – some with geysers, volcanoes, or ice. And like the other gas giants – Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus – Jupiter has rings.    

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Interact with the hotspots below to learn more.
  • THE MAGNETOSPHERE

    Jupiter’s magnetic field exerts its influence over a vast bubble of charged particles called the magnetosphere.


  • ORIGIN

    Jupiter’s origin is deeply connected to our own, so exploring the giant planet helps us understand where we came from.


  • JUPITER AND OUR SOLAR SYSTEM

    Why is Jupiter so important to the solar system?


  • THE INTERIOR

    Does Jupiter have a solid core? How does it create the largest magnetic field in the solar system, apart from the Sun?


  • JUPITER’S RINGS

    Formed from small moons, thin rings of dust particles surround Jupiter.


  • RADIATION READY?

    How do the Juno scientists test and prepare instruments for Jupiter’s extreme radiation environment?


  • SHOEMAKER LEVY 9 IMPACT

    In 1994, a comet smashed into Jupiter, creating a cosmic spectacle that caught the world’s attention.


  • THE ATMOSPHERE

    Are the swirls and bands on Jupiter mere surface features, or do they extend deep into the planet?


  • MOONS OF JUPITER

    Jupiter has more than 60 moons – some larger than ours – and at least one that could harbor life.


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Jupiter Extended Mission