What comes to your mind when you hear the word Jupiter? If you know, this planet is the largest planet in size when compared to other planets. In the world of astronomy, we know there are nine names of the planets that revolve around the sun.
However, in 2006 scientists agreed not to list Pluto as a planet. So, the total number of planets in the solar system is only eight. One of them is the planet we inhabit today.
Planet Earth is the only planet that can be used as a human habitation. The earth we live in is surrounded by an invisible layer of air. This layer is called the atmosphere. Imagine what would happen if our Earth was without an atmosphere. We will not be able to breathe like now.
Space is everything that is outside the atmosphere. Space is made up of thousands of millions of galaxies without being separated by any object. It's not just the planets that exist in space. However, other space objects are also scattered with various forms. Call it stars, moons, comets, meteors, and other celestial bodies. In this article, I will discuss about the largest inner planet in the solar system, namely Jupiter.
The Origin of the Planet Jupiter
Before discussing this planet, we should know what planets and solar systems are. A planet is a spherical celestial body made of rock or gas and liquid that swirls in space. The word planet means wanderer. The planets look like they're wandering through space.
Each planet has a specific trajectory. The planets always revolve around their orbits, namely the sun. From Earth, the other planets look like stars. However, unlike stars, planets cannot reflect light on their own.
The characteristics of the planets are as follows:
- Has a diameter of more than 800 km.
- Has enough mass to have its own gravity to overcome the pressure so that the object has a hydrostatic equilibrium shape (its shape is almost spherical).
- Not so large as to cause thermonuclear fusion of deuterium in its core.
- Orbits around a star or stellar remnant.
- Emptying the orbit so that it is not occupied by other large space objects.
There are eight planets that always rotate on their axis around the sun, namely Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The solar system itself consists of the sun, planets, moon (natural satellites), and other objects that orbit the sun.
The four planets closest to the sun are Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. The four planets are the inner planets. The other four planets such as Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune are the five outer planets.
The inner planets have much smaller orbits than the outer planets. Each planet has a different size. If Earth were the size of a sprout, Mercury would be the size of a pea, and Jupiter the size of a pumpkin. While the sun is bigger than Jupiter.
Planets always stay in their orbits due to the force of gravity. Gravity is an invisible force that pulls objects together on an axis. Gravity is also what causes the moon to remain in orbit in its orbit.
Most scientists believe that 15,000 million years ago, everything that existed was crushed into one lump. Suddenly the lump exploded into a million pieces. The explosion was so powerful, that the pieces of the lump were thrown far into the sky. This is the beginning of the universe. Millions of years later, one of the fragments became our solar system.
Among the other planets, Planet Jupiter stands out the most because of its enormous size. This giant planet has a diameter of 142,984 km or 11 times longer than the diameter of Earth. Its average distance from the sun is 778.57 million km, 5 times farther than the earth's surface.
This planet takes about 11.9 years to revolve around the sun. Much longer than the time it takes Earth. The orbit of this planet is slightly oval in shape.
This planet rotates on its axis (rotation) and takes 9 hours 56 minutes, smaller than Mars and Earth. On the surface of the planet Jupiter there is a giant red spot. The planet also has an atmosphere containing hydrogen (H) and helium (He).
Jupiter is surrounded by 16 natural satellites, with the 4 largest satellites, namely Ganymede, Io, Europa, and Callisto. The satellites were discovered by the world astronomer from Italy namely Galileo Galilei so that the four satellites were called the Galilean satellites.
This planet has a gravitational force that is 2.4 times stronger than Earth. The main substance content of this planet is the lightest elements such as hydrogen (86%) and helium (14%).
Other minor elements consist of methane, ammonia, phosphorus, acetylene, ethane, germanium, carbon monoxide, and water. These substances form a layer of clouds with a variety of colors. Astronomers hope they can find a cloud with water content about 70 km beneath the ammonia. However, the cloud cannot be found at all levels.
There is a part on the surface of Planet Jupiter that is unique, namely the Great Red Spot. The Great Red Spot is a gaseous mass that rotates like a hurricane with a diameter three times that of the Earth's surface.
The Great Red Spot consists of spots with various colors such as orange and slightly brownish. These colors are produced by the sulfur and phosphorus present in the ammonia crystals.
The upper part of Jupiter's clouds has a temperature of about -145°C. Space scientists speculate that if this planet had life then life would exist at a temperature level of 21°C.
This planet also has a giant magnetic field. A magnetic field is a magnetic force that extends far and wide into space in the region around a planet's surface. The planet's magnetic field is bound by particles of electrons, protons, and other electrical particles. The magnetic field is so strong that it can damage the operating system of the spacecraft.
Not only does Saturn have rings circling its surface. Jupiter also has three thin rings around the equator. However, the ring is dimmer so it is not very clearly visible.
Satellites of Planet Jupiter
This planet has 16 satellites, 4 of which are the largest satellites in the solar system. The following are the names of Jupiter's largest satellites.
1. Ganymede
Ganymede is the largest satellite in the solar system, even larger than the planet Mercury. Ganymede has a diameter measuring 5,268 km.
2. Callisto
Callisto has a diameter of 4,806 km. This satellite consists of ice, there are many craters, and some rock material.
3. Io
The satellite has many active volcanoes and produces sulfur-containing gas. Io has a diameter of 3,930 km. On this satellite there is a surface that is yellow and orange which may consist of solid sulfur deposited from the eruption.
4. Europa
Europa has a diameter of 3,130 km. Its surface has fine cracks made up of ice.
Life on Planet Jupiter
According to scientists, Jupiter's satellite Europa has signs of life. They have researched Europa and found that on the ice-covered surface there are already many blooming flowers. It is estimated that beneath the surface of the ice there is seawater content that indicates the existence of life.
However, it is very difficult to study the surface because it is covered in thick ice. Physicist and futurist Freeman Dyson said, “Signs of life can be seen from the orbit of the spacecraft. However, if there is a hole dug in the Europa layer, it will connect the surface to the inside.”
He also added, "Flowers found on Europa can be detected through retroreflection, which is an optical effect seen in light reflected from the eyes of animals or plants". Until now, scientists are still researching about life on Planet Jupiter.