During September, Jupiter is easily visible shining
brightly in the southeast sky after sunset. Face
southeast and look for a very bright "star-like"
object just over half-way up from the horizon. It
appears to be white to pale orange in color.
Jupiter moves further westward as the night
progresses. A small telescope will reveal Jupiter's
four "Galilean" moons: Callisto, Io, Europa and
Ganymede, all lined up like a string of small stars.
Watch carefully over a few hours and notice their
shifting positions. Visit our Telescopes page for
some telescope ideas.
brightly in the southeast sky after sunset. Face
southeast and look for a very bright "star-like"
object just over half-way up from the horizon. It
appears to be white to pale orange in color.
Jupiter moves further westward as the night
progresses. A small telescope will reveal Jupiter's
four "Galilean" moons: Callisto, Io, Europa and
Ganymede, all lined up like a string of small stars.
Watch carefully over a few hours and notice their
shifting positions. Visit our Telescopes page for
some telescope ideas.
Jupiter
NewExplorations.Net
NASA Image
Jupiter Fast Facts
Planet of the Month
* Fifth planet from the Sun.
* Average distance from the Sun: 484 million miles.
(Earth averages about 93 million miles.)
* Diameter: 89,000 miles - Largest in the solar system.
(Earth's diameter is 7,900 miles.)
* Rotation period: 9 hours, 50 minutes - Fastest of all the planets.
* One revolution around the Sun: 11 years, 10.3 months.
* Jupiter's mass compared to Earth's mass: 318 times.
Greater than all the other planets in the solar system combined.
* Galilean moons so named after their discoverer, Galileo Galilei,
in 1609.
* Moons: Greater than 50 at last count.
* Average distance from the Sun: 484 million miles.
(Earth averages about 93 million miles.)
* Diameter: 89,000 miles - Largest in the solar system.
(Earth's diameter is 7,900 miles.)
* Rotation period: 9 hours, 50 minutes - Fastest of all the planets.
* One revolution around the Sun: 11 years, 10.3 months.
* Jupiter's mass compared to Earth's mass: 318 times.
Greater than all the other planets in the solar system combined.
* Galilean moons so named after their discoverer, Galileo Galilei,
in 1609.
* Moons: Greater than 50 at last count.