Exhibit Codex
Jupiter
The largest planet in our Solar System, with a deep hydrogen-rich atmosphere and powerful storms.
Open interactive exhibit ↗About this exhibit
Gas giant
Physical profile · seven measurements
- Mean radius
- 69,911 km
- Mass
- 1,898.125 ×10²⁴ kg
- Bulk density
- 1.3262 g/cm³
- Sidereal rotation
- 0.41354 Earth days
- Sidereal orbit
- 11.862615 Earth years
- Equatorial gravity
- 24.79 m/s²
- Escape speed
- 60.2 km/s
Present-day reference values, rounded from JPL Solar System Dynamics. These are not reconstructed ancient measurements. Gas-giant gravity refers to a reference atmospheric level, not solid ground. Sidereal rotation differs from the solar day.
Reference and coverage
Time scaling is shared with the interactive atlas. Surface interpretations and reconstructed history have different levels of certainty.
Planetary record
A giant without a solid surface
Hydrogen and helium dominate Jupiter. Pressure increases downward into fluid layers, including electrically conducting metallic hydrogen. Its interior is not a hollow shell beneath the clouds.
Weather & magnetism
Bands, jet streams and enormous storms shape its atmosphere. A powerful magnetic field traps charged particles around the planet.
A system of moons
Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto form the four large Galilean moons. This edition concentrates on the planets; their separate moon systems are not yet modeled.
Time in this exhibit
4.6 billion years ago · Cloud & disk
The young Sun is surrounded by a disk of gas and dust. Planet formation is underway.
4.54 billion years ago · Young planets
The terrestrial planets are growing through accretion and impacts. Their orbits and surfaces continue to evolve.
Present · Modern system
Eight planets orbit our Sun. This layout compresses distances and adjusts sizes to make every world accessible.
Read the detailed records
Open the full exhibit Codex for individual structure records and time-specific information. The Credits page lists source creators, licenses and adaptations.