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

 ...

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

 ...

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)

 ...

Jupiter is usually the fourth brightest object in the sky (after the Sun, the Moon, and Venus); at opposition Mars can appear brighter than Jupiter. Depending on Jupiter's position with respect to the Earth, it can vary in visual magnitude from as bright as −2.94 at

 ...

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

 ...

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, collectively known as the "

 ...

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

 ...