Jupiter is often described as not only a gas giant, but “almost a sun” or a “failed star.” Surprisingly, Jupiter and Sol share similar atmospheric contents:
Sol: Hydrogen – 78 percent; Helium – 19.8 percent
Jupiter: Hydrogen – 89 percent; Helium – 11 percent
A key difference between the two entities, however, lies in their core temperatures. Sol’s core is about 16 million Celsius, while Jupiter’s core is 33,000 Celsius. Further, while Jupiter does transmit twice the heat energy it absorbs from the sun, much of this heat has been stored on the planet since its formation.
In order for Jupiter to achieve star status, it would need to be about sixty times more massive. Such mass would theoretically lead to the planet’s collapse under its own gravity, forcing thermonuclear reactions that would convert the gas giant into a star. Had such an event occured during our Solar System’s formation, the formation of life on Earth would have been dramatically different due to the increased temperatures on our planet.
For more information:
- Los Angeles Times Scientists Begin to Decipher Surprising Jupiter Probe Data
- Starry Skies Jupiter: The Star that Might have Been
This entry also posted in the American Military University Introduction to Astronomy newsgroup.