Jupiter-King of Planets !

It is easy to spot the king of planets if it is present in our night sky because it is the brightest object over there,after Moon & Venus (Venus is visible only near sunset or sunrise ).This colossal giant is so huge that a 1,000 earths could comfortably settle inside it,or all the planets put together.It has beautiful bands of colors caused by fast moving clouds & thick layers of gases.You can see the first true color picture of this planet above.

It is known as a gas giant because it does not have a solid surface.It's atmosphere mainly consists of hydrogen & helium.Beneath the atmosphere is a large ocean of hydrogen & water.It is mainly composed of gas & liquid gas.Jupiter has tremendous atmospheric pressure.The temperature at it's top layer is -200*F but it may increase up to 43,000*F at the core.This core is probably made up of liquid  rock & it comprises only 5% of the total mass.

In fact the composition of Jupiter is quite like that of sun.It even has a miniature solar system of four large & many other smaller moons.In addition to this there are Trojans--two groups of asteroids-- which accompany Jupiter in it's orbit,one behind & the other in front of it..Next ,there are thin rings composed of rocky bits,which circle Jupiter at high speed-completing one round in only six hours.

Jupiter has a stormy weather--winds blowing at a speed of 300-400mph.These winds do not blow in the same direction but in bands of opposite directions.The points where these opposing forces meet suffer furious clashes.Lightening & storms afflict the  whole planet.A huge storm which has been raging for at least 300 yrs gives it the famous Red Spot.This spot is so big that it could easily accommodate Earth.

Since it is such a mammoth planet, it's magnetism too, is stupendous--20,000 times as strong as that of earth.It extends to millions of miles in space--reaching up to Saturn's orbit,which is 400 million miles away from it.It's gravity too is two & a half times that of earth--you will find it difficult to walk on it's surface (oops!But   there is no surface at all,just gas,gas & more gas!).Only sun has greater gravity.

Some more interesting facts--Driving a car @ 50mph you will take six years to circle it's equator.On earth it takes only three weeks to do so.
 Jupiter rotates faster than any other planet in our solar system.

It's day consists of less than 10 earth hours & but it revolves round the sun in 11.9 yrs travelling at an average speed of 29,236mph. Well this speed is not a measly one but if you watch it day after day you will hardly notice any change in it's position.This demonstrates once again,how gigantic our solar system is!

Astrologers link Jupiter's presence in a horoscope with expansion,abundance & affluence.It all depends on, which sector this king is relaxing in.If it is the second sector then your financial status is going to expaand but if it is in the eleventh sector then friendships & social activities will blossom.

Text courtesy Robin Kerrod.
Images courtesy zazzle.com & wikipedia.