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Article: Jupiter.(planets)
- Article from:
- Science Weekly
- Article date:
- April 16, 1998
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 1998 Science Weekly, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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Our solar system is made up of nine planets which orbit our Sun. Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system and the fifth from the Sun. We live on the third planet. Jupiter is so large that 1200 Earths could easily fit inside of it.
A Thick Ball of Gas
You could not stand on Jupiter. It is not solid like the Earth, but is mainly made of very thick hydrogen and helium gases. At its center is a small rocky core. The great pressures and high temperatures on Jupiter cause some of the gases to become so thick, they are almost like a liquid. At times, these gases rise up and swell like gigantic waves.
It is very cold in outer space, and ...