Jupiter

From Acw

Jupiter is the 5th and largest planet of the Sol system. It is one of 4 planets in the Sol system that can be classified as 'Gas Giants'.

Contents 1 Composition 1.1 Atmosphere 1.2 Internal Structure 2 Moons of Jupiter

Composition

Atmosphere

The planet's atmosphere is composed largely of Hydrogen (almost 90% by volume) with Helium the only other element present at significiant levels.

Atmospheric composition (by volume, uncertainty in parentheses)

• Major:Molecular hydrogen (H2) - 89.8% (2.0%); Helium (He) - 10.2% (2.0%)
• Minor (ppm): Methane (CH4) - 3000 (1000); Ammonia (NH3) - 260 (40); Hydrogen Deuteride (HD) - 28 (10); Ethane (C2H6) - 5.8(1.5);Water (H2O) - 4 (varies with pressure)
• Aerosols: Ammonia ice, water ice, ammonia hydrosulfide

Internal Structure

In 2093 UISA scientists launched a probe from their research base on Ganymede to finally determine the nature of the interior structure of Jupiter. Up until that time, its was uncertain whether Jupiter contained any solid matter at all, or was simply a ball of homogenous gas, with density gradually increasing towards the centre of the planet. The probe found that the planet does in fact possess a small solid matter component at its core, composed largely of iron and silica.

The UISA initially blocked the release of the probe data, hoping they could somehow turn the knowledge to their advantage. perhaps even to colonise Jupiter proper. When it became apparent that such as task would be extremely difficult, most likely not economically viable and bring about no political gain, the UISA government abandoned the idea and allowed the scientists involved in the project to publish their data in the journal Science

Moons of Jupiter

Jupiter has a total of 63 moons but most of these are less than 10km in diameter. Only 4 of Jupiter's moons are large enough to be suitable for human colonisation

• Io - Italian colony
• Europa - Italian colony
• Ganymede - UISA colony
• Callisto - French colony