SIZE IN SPACE

planet · Object guide

How big is Jupiter?

The world that makes Earth look like a bead.

One scale. Two worlds.True diameter scale
Jupiter and Earth to scaleTheir diameters differ by a factor of 10.973. Illustrations show body diameter, not separation in space.

Body diameters to scale. Positions and surface artwork are illustrative; Saturn’s rings are excluded.

A change of perspective

10.973× the diameter. See how the two worlds measure up.

Diameter is a distance across an object. Volume grows with the cube of that distance.

Choose a size to bring this comparison down to Earth.

Jupiter: Twice the source mean radius; body diameter only, excluding rings.

Earth: Twice the source mean radius; body diameter only, excluding rings.

How we measure size →
Mean diameter

1.3982e+05 km

Twice the source mean radius; body diameter only, excluding rings.

Jupiter changes the scale of the scene. Earth remains visible, but its familiar disk now feels small. Switch to “How many across?” to turn that impression into a line of Earth diameters.

Which Jupiter diameter?

This comparison uses the volume-equivalent mean diameter, rather than the larger equatorial diameter. That distinction matters for a flattened planet. If you see a different ratio elsewhere, check which diameter was used.

Keep going

Compare Jupiter with the Sun. A giant in one pairing becomes the smaller object in the next. Explore Jupiter versus the Sun.

Measurement source

Planetary Physical Parameters — NASA JPL. Twice the source mean radius; body diameter only, excluding rings.

Source references