Discover key facts about Jupiter, the largest gas giant in our solar system. This planet is so immense that all other planets in the solar system could fit inside it, and its mass is 2.5 times greater than all other planets combined. This massive size results in a powerful gravitational pull that acts as a protective shield for Earth, deflecting comets and asteroids. Jupiter is home to the Great Red Spot, a persistent storm larger than Earth itself, with winds reaching up to 400 miles per hour. The planet also boasts a mini-solar system of its own, with 95 officially recognized moons, including the largest moon in the solar system, Ganymede.

Learn about the term "Jovian," used to describe Jupiter and other gas giants like it. While not as famous as Saturn's, Jupiter has a faint ring system made of dust, discovered by the Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1979. Its magnetic field is nearly 20,000 times stronger than Earth's, creating spectacular auroras larger than our entire planet.

Space enthusiasts can even participate in NASA's Juno mission as citizen scientists, helping to process images and vote on what the JunoCam photographs. Visit https://www.missionjuno.swri.edu/junocam for more information.

Want to learn more? Head over to my website www.funfactsdailypod.com and be sure to listen to my other podcasts Who ARTed: Weekly Art History for All Ages or Art Smart. For family fun, check out my son's podcast Rainbow Puppy Science Lab

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