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| '''Jupiter''' is the fifth [[planet]] from the [[Sun]]. It is a [[gas giant]] (also known as the Jovian planet).
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| | {{rpl|Jupiter (planet)}} |
| | {{rpl|Jupiter (mythology)}} |
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| ==Parameters for classification as a planet==
| | {{rpl|Jupiter, Florida}} |
| Jupiter is classified as a planet by the International Astronomical Union for meeting the following criteria:<ref>[http://www.nasa.gov/vision/universe/solarsystem/planetsf-20060824.html Honey, I Shrunk the Solar System] NASA. “The International Astronomical Union has decided that, to be called a planet, an object must have three traits. It must orbit the sun, be massive enough that its own gravity pulls it into a nearly round shape, and be dominant enough to clear away objects in its neighborhood.”</ref>
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| *Orbits the sun;
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| *Has mass sufficient for its gravity to form a nearly round shape;
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| *Has mass sufficient for gravity to clear a path in its orbit.
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| ==Physical characteristics==
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| Jupiter is a little more than five times further away from the Sun than Earth (5.2 AU) and is the most massive of the planets with a total mass of about 318 times that of Earth (318 Earth masses) Its total mass is about 2.5 times all the other planets combined. It is composed largely of [[hydrogen]] and [[helium]]. Jupiter's strong internal heat creates a number of semi-permanent features in its atmosphere, such as cloud bands and the Great Red Spot.
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| ===Jupiter's great spot===
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| Jupiter's red spot is believed to be a giant hurricane a strom rotating within the planet clouds. The first recorded observation was made by Italian-French astronomer Jean-Dominique Cassini in 1655. Three-hundred years later it is still active. The spot is a cold, high-pressure area, 2 to 3 times the diameter of Earth. Its outer edges make a complete rotation in a counter clock-wise motion about once every six days.<ref>[http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap960802.html Galileo, Cassini, and the Great Red Spot] NASA </ref>
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| The red spot rises about 8 km above the surrounding clouds. Its red colour is a mystery but current theories posit that it may be caused by material dredged up from the surface of the planet.<ref name=NASAOvalBA>[http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2006/02mar_redjr.htm Jupiter's new red spot] NASA</ref>
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| ===Oval BA===
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| Jupiter shows a number of other storms that are much smaller than the Great Red Spot. However, in June of 2000, a number of these smaller storms were seen to coalesce and form a larger storm center. The storm, labled Oval BA (aka Red Spot Jr.) has since developed a reddish colour and looks very much like the Great Red Spot though much smaller.<ref name=NASAOvalBA/>
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| ==Rotational characteristics==
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| Jupiter has a rotational period (a complete rotation on its axis) of 9.842 hours and a polar tilt of 3°.<ref name=NMMOrbits>[http://www.nmm.ac.uk/server/show/conWebDoc.393 The orbits of the planets] National Maritime Museum</ref>
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| ==Orbital characteristics==
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| Jupiter has an orbital period (sidereal year) of 11.68 earth years. Jupiter has an average distance from the Sun of 778,412,020 km.<ref>[http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/profile.cfm?Object=Jupiter Jupiter] NASA</ref> At is closest approach to the Sun (perihelion) it is nearly 5 times the distance of the Earth from the Sun (4.95 AU). At its furthest distance from the Sun (aphelion) it is 5.45 AU from the Sun.<ref name=NMMOrbits/>
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| ==Natural satellites==
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| Jupiter has sixty-three satellites. The four largest, [[Ganymede (moon)|Ganymede]], [[Callisto (moon)|Callisto]], [[Io (moon)|Io]], and [[Europa (moon)|Europa]] show similarities to the terrestrial planets, such as volcanism and internal heating.<ref>{{cite web|title= Geology of the Icy Galilean Satellites: A Framework for Compositional Studies|author=Pappalardo, R T|work=Brown University|year=1999|url=http://www.agu.org/cgi-bin/SFgate/SFgate?&listenv=table&multiple=1&range=1&directget=1&application=fm99&database=%2Fdata%2Fepubs%2Fwais%2Findexes%2Ffm99%2Ffm99&maxhits=200&=%22P11C-10%22|accessdate= 2006-01-16 }}</ref> Ganymede, the largest satellite in the Solar System, is larger than Mercury.
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| ==References==
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| <div class="references-small">
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| <references />
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| </div>
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| ==External Links ==
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| *[http://heritage.stsci.edu/1999/29/index.html Jupiter's Great Red Spot] Hubble Heritage Project
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| [[Category:Astronomy Workgroup]]
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| [[Category:CZ Live]]
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Jupiter (planet): The fifth planet from the Sun in our solar system; named after the Roman god of the same name; largest planet in our solar system. [e]
Jupiter (mythology): A god in Greek mythology who is a titan and the father of many other gods; also known as Zeus. [e]
