![jupiter](http://www.cookeq.com/img/jupiter.gif)

<h3>Jupiter, the fifth planet which orbits around the sun at a distance of 483.8 million miles. </h3>I would be excited to jump on a spaceship and visit the planet, and its solar system like moon system.  There are many moons of many different sizes, the most well-known being, Europa, Ganymede, Io and Callisto.  The reason they are so popular is because you can see them with binoculars or a simple telescope.

![jupiter](http://www.cookeq.com/img/probe.jpg)

<h3>Europa is covered in a thick sheet of ice, and underneath, is an ocean.</h3>  How could liquid water exist on a moon so far away from the Sun?  Well I can say that it’s not from a molten core.  No, the moon would have cooled down millions of years ago.  Then what is it from?  Well the theory is that when the moon orbits, Jupiter’s gravity kneads it like dough.  The friction causes the insides of the planet to heat up.

![jupiter](http://www.cookeq.com/img/europa.jpg)

<h3>So what does this have to do with Jupiter being deadly for an astronaut you might ask?</h3>  Well simply put, Europa is the main reason we want to visit the Jovian system in the first place.  Why?  For one, with all its water, it would be a great place for a space base, we could turn it into rocket fuel to propel us further into the solar system.  But most importantly is because it is thought that Europa could harbor life. This means that we want to visit Jupiter to investigate and put a space base on Europa. 

![jupiter](http://www.cookeq.com/img/radiation.jpg)

<h3>The problem is, Jupiter puts off extreme quantities of radiation, deep into space.</h3>  Any space probes we send there must be heavily shielded, but even our best shielding will not protect a human visitor.  So for now, Jupiter is off the list of planets to visit with a live astronaut.  One day, hopefully, we will be able to establish a base on Europa.  I know that I am not alone in my desire to visit the stars.

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