What is the approximate temperature at Jupiter's cloud tops?

The temperature near Jupiter’s visible cloud tops is approximately −145 °C. This frigid region lies near the top of the troposphere, where pressure and temperature fall to a minimum before rising again higher in the atmosphere.

Jupiter has no solid surface, so “cloud tops” provides a practical reference level rather than marking a physical ground. The visible upper clouds are largely made of ammonia ice crystals. Beneath them are deeper layers associated with ammonium hydrosulfide and water clouds, where pressure and temperature increase dramatically.

The cloud-top temperature is comparable to the coldest conditions found on Earth, but Jupiter’s atmosphere behaves very differently. The planet’s rapid rotation creates powerful jet streams and alternating light zones and dark belts. Storms can persist for years or even centuries, including the Great Red Spot.

The quoted value is an approximation because temperature varies with altitude, latitude, cloud layer, and atmospheric conditions. It should not be confused with Jupiter’s warmer internal or deeper atmospheric temperatures, which rise sharply as pressure increases.