Jupiter is the largest planet, 318 times the mass of the Earth and over 11 times its diameter. Jupiter lies 5.2 AU from the Sun, and has an orbital period of nearly 12 years. A consequence of this is that we see Jupiter pass into a new zodiacal constellation about every year.

Jupiter is a gas giant: its density is only 25% that of the Earth because instead of being rocky, it is composed largely of hydrogen and helium. The bands we see in its stormy atmosphere are composed of many other gases.

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