Jupiter, the fifth planet from the Sun, is the largest in our solar system:

• Distance from Sun: Approximately 778 million kilometers (483 million miles)
• Diameter: About 139,820 kilometers (86,881 miles)
• Day Length: 9.9 Earth hours (fastest rotation of any planet)
• Year Length: 11.86 Earth years
• Surface Temperature: -145°C (-234°F) at cloud tops
• Atmosphere: Mostly hydrogen (90%) and helium (10%), with trace elements

Jupiter is a gas giant with remarkable characteristics:

• Famous for its Great Red Spot, a storm larger than Earth
• Colorful bands of clouds due to atmospheric dynamics
• Strong magnetic field, 20,000 times stronger than Earth's
• At least 95 known moons, including the four large Galilean moons: Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto
• Faint ring system made of dust particles

In Roman mythology, Jupiter is a central figure:

• Equivalent to Greek god Zeus
• King of the gods, ruler of sky and thunder
• Associated with justice, law, and order
• Often depicted with a thunderbolt and eagle

Jupiter has been studied by several space missions:

• First close observations by Pioneer 10 and 11 in 1973-1974
• Voyager 1 and 2 provided detailed images in 1979
• Galileo orbiter (1995-2003) studied planet and moons extensively
• Juno mission (2016-present) investigates atmosphere and interior
• Future missions like ESA's JUICE (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer) planned for 2030s

Learn More About Juno

Mars, the fourth planet from the Sun, is known as the Red Planet:

• Distance from Sun: Approximately 228 million kilometers (142 million miles)
• Diameter: About 6,792 kilometers (4,220 miles)
• Day Length: 24.6 Earth hours (very similar to Earth's day)
• Year Length: 687 Earth days
• Surface Temperature: Ranges from -153°C (-243°F) to 20°C (68°F)
• Atmosphere: Thin, mostly carbon dioxide with nitrogen and argon

Mars has distinctive features that make it a subject of fascination:

• Red color from iron oxide (rust) on its surface
• Home to Olympus Mons, the solar system's largest volcano (22 km/13.6 mi high)
• Valles Marineris, a canyon system stretching 4,000 km (2,500 mi)
• Two small moons: Phobos and Deimos
• Evidence of ancient water flows and possible subsurface ice

In Roman mythology, Mars holds a prominent role:

• Equivalent to Greek god Ares
• God of war and agriculture
• Father of Romulus and Remus, legendary founders of Rome
• Symbolized strength, courage, and military prowess

Mars has been extensively studied through space missions:

• First close-up images from Mariner 4 in 1965
• Viking 1 and 2 landed in 1976, providing detailed surface data
• Recent rovers: Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, and Perseverance (2021)
• China's Tianwen-1 mission with Zhurong rover landed in 2021
• Future plans include sample return missions and human exploration

Access Perseverance Data