from the British National Space Centre (BNSC) ~~ http://www.bnsc.gov.uk/5945.aspx

• Distance from the Sun: Varies between 740 - 817 million km
• Satellites: 63 known including Io, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto

The largest object in our Solar System... More than a thousand Earths would fit inside it and Jupiter has moons larger than planets. It is also home to storms that have raged for hundreds of years. ... This enormous orange gas giant is made up of 90 per cent hydrogen.

...Although it takes 12 years to orbit the Sun, Jupiter only has a ten hour day. As a result, the planet rotates so fast that it produces violent winds, bulges 9,000 km at its equator and stretches the striped white clouds of ammonia ice. Its distinctive Red Spot is a 40,000 km storm system and could swallow the entire Earth." ~~ www.bnsc.gov.uk