Jupiter: The King

Jupiter is the largest planet by far, with more mass than all the other planets combined. It has no solid surface — just layers of dense gas and liquid that give way to metallic hydrogen under crushing pressure. Its Great Red Spot is a storm wider than Earth.

Astronomers have tracked that storm for at least 190 years, with winds reaching 620 km/h — though it may be even older. A reddish spot was reported by Cassini back in the 1660s, but a 2024 study concluded that earlier storm likely faded away, and today's Great Red Spot probably formed in the early 1800s. Jupiter's immense gravity acts as a cosmic shield, deflecting many asteroids and comets that might otherwise threaten the inner solar system.