In Classical times, Jupiter was considered the king of the planets because its twelve-year orbital period matched it to the twelve constellations of the zodiac, with it passing to a new constellation every year. It was thus named for the king of

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Jupiter is most likely the oldest planet in the Solar System. Current models of Solar System formation suggest that Jupiter formed at or beyond the snow line; a distance from the early Sun where the temperature is sufficiently cold for volatilessuch as water to

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Jupiter is one of the two gas giants, being primarily composed of gas and liquid rather than solid matter. It is the largest planet in the Solar System, with a diameter of 142,984 km (88,846 mi) at its equator. The average density of Jupiter, 1.326 g/cm , is the second highest of

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Jupiter is usually the fourth brightest object in the sky (after the Sun, the Moon, and Venus); at opposition Marscan appear brighter than Jupiter. Depending on Jupiter's position with

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Pre-telescopic research
Observation of Jupiter dates back to at least the Babylonian astronomersof the 7th or 8th century BC. The ancient Chinese knew Jupiter as the "Suì

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Jupiter has 80 known natural satellites. Of these, 60 are less than 10 km in diameter. The four largest moons are Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto,

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Jupiter is the only planet whose barycentrewith the Sun lies outside the volume of the Sun, though by only 7% of the Sun's radius. The average distance

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