There are lots of non-fiction books about Jupiter, and it’s little wonder. Jupiter is the 5th planet from the Sun and is by far the largest planet in the solar system. The planet is so huge that all other planets in the solar system could fit inside it and over 1,000 planet Earths would be able to fit inside.
The planet is similar to a star in the way it is made, so much so that if Jupiter had been larger (around 80 times its current size), it would have become a star and not a planet.
Jupiter is named for the king of the gods in Roman mythology, and his counterpart in Greek mythology is called Zeus. For more detail on the planet and its moons, you need non-fiction books about Jupiter, so here we have our top 10 picks of non-fiction books about Jupiter.
1 Jupiter: William Sheehan & Thomas Hockey
Available on Amazon from the UK and the US
The huge planet that is Jupiter has fascinated mankind for thousands of years, and ancient civilisations observed it, believing it to be a manifestation of a deity. This book covers the entire history of the studies ever conducted on Jupiter, so far.
This magnificently illustrated title takes the reader through naked-eye observations of ancient civilisations, to studies of Galileo and the flood of information from probes. This is a must-read for anyone wanting to know more.
2 Jupiter And How to Observe it: John W. McAnally
Available on Amazon in the UK and the US
The first part of this book details information for those wanting to hone their sky-watching skills and want to know just what it is they are looking at.
The second part of the title focuses on observational techniques for the practical observer. There are also the latest findings and observations of Jupiter, as well as a collection of some amazing photographs taken by the author himself.
3 Jupiter (Planets in Our Solar System): Steve Foxe
Available on Amazon in the UK and the US
There is nothing small about the planet Jupiter; the planet itself is huge, the storms are huge, and the storm that causes the famous red spot has been raging for over a hundred years!
All of that and much more is detailed in the book, and younger readers will love learning all about it; the target age range is 5-8 years.
4 Amazing Facts about Jupiter: Improve Your Knowledge
Available on Amazon from the UK and the US
Chock full of great facts about the largest planet in our solar system. From its infamous red spot and huge storms to its diverse moons. There is something to learn here that you probably had no idea about previously.
Ideal for younger readers, and for mum or dad to read to smaller ears.
5 Explore Jupiter – Liz Milroy
Available on Amazon from the UK and the US
This colourful picture book is choc-full of interesting facts about Jupiter, its moons, what it would be like to be there… Everything that an eager young mind could want to learn.
The details that are presented are easy to read and understand, and there is a bonus QR code inside so that you can view Jupiter in 3D.
6 Jupiter: The Largest Planet – Daisy Alyn
Available on Amazon in the UK and in the US
Ideal for younger people (the age rating is 5-8, but it is probably more for 5 and possibly 6) to either work through by themselves or to have read to them.
Text is easy to read and understand and everything is presented without using long or complicated words.
7 Jupiter: The Planet, Satellites and Magnetosphere
Available on Amazon in the UK and in the US
Possibly the most comprehensive volume on the planet Jupiter available today. This brings together every aspect and every bit of information available at the time of publishing (2004).
The actual work was written by a team of experts from across the globe, and put together by a team of editors. Chapters provide the reader with a wealth of information from several missions, ground telescopes and space telescopes.
8 Destination: Jupiter – Seymour Simon
Available on Amazon in the UK and in the US
Seymour Simon’s entry is aimed at younger readers, but it doesn’t feel like it is. He has won multiple awards for his works, and he was a teacher for over 20 years – and it shows.
The content follows several teaching standards and contains more detail than other volumes aimed at younger readers. Another plus point for this work is that it is suitable for older readers too.
9 NASA’s Voyager Missions to Jupiter
Available on Amazon in the UK and in the US
This volume is the coming together of two, official, NASA documents regarding Voyager and Voyager I and their missions to Jupiter and the outer planets in 1977.
As the two spacecraft passed Jupiter, extensive amounts of data were collected, including photographs – all of which (that pertains to Jupiter) is included here in these fascinating documents.
10 Mission Jupiter: The Spectacular Journey of the Galileo Spacecraft: Daniel Fischer
Available on Amazon in the UK and in the US
This is the fascinating telling of the Galileo mission to Jupiter. Fischer pieces all of the data about this giant planet and its moons, while also telling the whole story of the spacecraft – from concept to launch and beyond.
Fischer also describes just what the Jovian atmosphere is really like. The volume is spectacularly illustrated and brilliantly written.
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