In recognition of Galileo's contribution, the four largest of Jupiter's moons are collectively known as the Galilean satellites.
Composition and Structure.
Astronomers were able to accurately determine Jupiter's mass even before 1900. They calculated the gravitational force that Jupiter exerts on its satellites by measuring their movements around the planet over an extended period. Because the gravitational force exerted by a planet is proportional to its mass, they could deduce Jupiter's mass. Unlike the rocky inner planets of the solar system Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars, Reta Beebe (2000) states Jupiter is a ball of dense gas and has no solid surface. Jupiter may have a core composed of rock-forming minerals like those trapped in comet ices, but the core makes up less than five percent of the planet's mass. Gas and clouds in Jupiter's atmosphere travel at high speeds. These gases and clouds travel faster at the equator than at higher latitudes. The gases and clouds of the atmosphere are thrown outward as the planet rotates, similar to the manner in which mud is thrown outward from a spinning wheel. Jupiter's outer layer, composed of a gaseous mixture of hydrogen, helium, and traces of hydrogen-rich compounds such as ammonia, methane, and water vapor, is about 600 miles thick. .
Stripes, Rings, and Moons.
From a distance Jupiter appears to have horizontal stripes, which result from winds that shear its cloud layers into sharply defined bands. These bands circle the planet, with winds along the edges of adjacent bands blowing in opposite directions. Some of the cloud bands appear whitish, while others are orangey or brown. Major storms often appear suddenly on Jupiter. Jupiter's most famous storm, the Great Red Spot, has persisted for centuries. The earliest report of a red spot was by Robert Hooke in 1664. The red color of the spot appears to be caused by impurities such as sulfur or phosphorous compounds that absorb ultraviolet, violet, and blue light.