Facts about Planet Jupiter
>> Diameter: 137,260 km, the largest planet – more than 12 Earths could line up across it
>> Temperature: Range -163° C to >-121° C
>> Distance from Sun: Approximately 745 million kilometres
>> Atmosphere: Mostly hydrogen and helium
>> Surface: A giant ball of mostly hydrogen and helium
>> Rotation of its axis: 9 hours, 55 minutes in Earth time (the length of one rotation)
>> Rotation around the Sun: 12 Earth years
>> Magnetic Field: Yes
>> Number of Moons: 63 moons have been identified; Ganymede is the largest moon – it is bigger than both Mercury and Pluto
Status of visibility: It shines bright and high overhead us after sunset. It’s visible in our nightsky until end of March 2012.
