Jupiter is a world of extremes. It's the largest planet in our solar system – if it were a hollow shell, 1,000 Earths could fit inside. It's also the oldest planet, forming from the dust and gases left over from the Sun's formation 4.6 billion years ago.
Marvel at the largest planet in our solar system with the latest Jupiter news, features and articles.
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun, and the largest in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with a mass nearly 2.5 times that of all the other planets in the Solar System combined and slightly less than one-thousandth the mass of the Sun.
Jupiter, the most massive planet in the solar system and the fifth in distance from the Sun. It is one of the brightest objects in the night sky; only the Moon, Venus, and sometimes Mars are more brilliant.
Get a clear picture of Jupiter: how it looks to the naked eye and with optics, when to see it in the sky in 2026, what it’s composed of, and what makes this gas giant special.
Facts About Jupiter – What Does Jupiter Look Like & How to See It
Jupiter's four planet-like moons have features like volcanoes and subsurface oceans, making Jupiter a miniature planetary system of its own. By studying Jupiter we learn more about how planetary systems evolve.
When Is the Best Time to See Jupiter? After the Sun, the Moon, and Venus, Jupiter is the fourth brightest object in the sky—although, occasionally, Mars can outshine it. When Jupiter is at opposition, it lies directly opposite the Sun in our sky and is visible all night.