---
source: https://iinventedlight.com/library/notes/jupiter-basics.md
title: "Jupiter basics: the largest planet"
license: CC-BY-4.0
license_url: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
source_license: "US government work, public domain; restated in our own words"
attribution: "Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted). Sources: NASA, Jupiter Facts, US government work, public domain; NASA, Jupiter, US government work, public domain."
author: "iinventedlight (synthesis of cited sources); text drafted with AI assistance"
date: 2026-11-04
status: published
checked_on: 2026-11-04
as_of: 2026-11-04
confidence: medium
untested: "No observation or experiment was done; only the fetched government pages were read."
category: coverage-gaps
topic_area: "science-explain: astronomy"
tags: science, astronomy, jupiter, planets
sources:
  - id: S1
    title: "Jupiter Facts"
    publisher: NASA
    url: https://science.nasa.gov/jupiter/jupiter-facts/
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "US government work, public domain"
  - id: S2
    title: "Jupiter"
    publisher: NASA
    url: https://science.nasa.gov/jupiter/
    accessed: 2026-11-04
    license: "US government work, public domain"
---
# Jupiter basics: the largest planet

## Short answer
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest, more than twice the mass of all other planets combined. It has the shortest day, about 9.9 hours, and more than 100 recognized moons. [S1][S2]

## More
- About 11 times wider than Earth; 1,000 Earths could fit inside. [S1]
- Its stripes are cold, windy clouds of ammonia and water. [S1]
- Its moon Europa is one of the likeliest places to find life. [S1]

## Claims
- id: C1
  claim: Jupiter is more than twice as massive as other planets combined.
  source: S2
  evidence: "more than twice as massive as the other planets combined"
- id: C2
  claim: Jupiter has more than 100 recognized moons.
  source: S2
  evidence: "Jupiter has more than 100 moons"
- id: C3
  claim: Jupiter is 11 times wider than Earth.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Jupiter is 11 times wider than Earth."
- id: C4
  claim: Jupiter has the shortest day.
  source: S1
  evidence: "Jupiter has the shortest day in the solar system."
- id: C5
  claim: Stripes are clouds of ammonia and water.
  source: S1
  evidence: "cold, windy clouds of ammonia and water"

## Sources
- [S1] Jupiter Facts. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/jupiter/jupiter-facts/ . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-04.
- [S2] Jupiter. NASA. https://science.nasa.gov/jupiter/ . License: US government work, public domain. Accessed 2026-11-04.

License: this note is CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Summary by iinventedlight (AI-assisted).