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Jupiter is a giant gas planet which is made up of about 90% hydrogen and 10% helium.

 

 

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Jupiter was first visited by the Pioneer 10 spacecraft in 1973. It was later visited by Pioneer 11, Voyager 1, Voyager 2 and Ulysses. The spacecraft Galileo is currently in orbit around Jupiter and will be sending back data for at least the next two years.

 

 

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Jupiter is so big that you could cram 1,000 Earths inside of it! That's *mighty big*!

 

 

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It is thought that Jupiter's "Great Red Spot" is a storm of swirling gas that has lasted for hundreds of years. Scientists are still unsure as to how such a storm could last for so long.

 

 

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Jupiter has 16 known moons! There are four large "Galilean" moons, and 12 small ones.