Jupiter, the most massive
planet in our solar system -- with dozens of moons and an enormous magnetic
field -- forms a kind of miniature solar system. Jupiter does resemble a star
in composition, but it did not grow big enough to ignite. The planet's swirling
cloud stripes are punctuated by massive storms such as the Great Red Spot, which
has raged for hundreds of years.
Jupiter's appearance is a
tapestry of beautiful colors and atmospheric features. Most visible clouds are
composed of ammonia. Water vapor exists deep below and can sometimes be seen
through clear spots in the clouds. The planet's "stripes" are dark
belts and light zones created by strong east-west winds in Jupiter's upper
atmosphere.
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