IS JUPITER A FAILED STAR?

 Jupiter is the fifth planet of the solar system. It is by far the largest planet in the solar system. It has a mass that is 2.5 times the mass of all the planets combined together. Still, it is 1/1000 th of the mass of the sun.

 How huge is Jupiter, can be imagined that 11 Earth can fit its equator. Jupiter is a jovian planet. It has clouds of ammonia and water that floats on its Helium and hydrogen atmosphere. These clouds form rings of the planet that travels in different directions. Jupiter has a giant red spot which is a storm going on this planet for 200 years, it was first observed in the 17th century. In terms of size, it is bigger than the earth. Jupiter's core is solid and is the size of Earth. 

 WHY JUPITER IS A FAILED STAR?

 The atmosphere consists of 90% of hydrogen and 10% of helium by volume. The high content of hydrogen and Helium on Jupiter is considered similar to that of the sun. So, it is considered that Jupiter is a failed star. But the mass of Jupiter is much low than the brown dwarf. 

Jupiter has a larger radius but it has a very low mass. If at such a radius it has as a mass as that of a red dwarf, it could have been a star.

 Jupiter has radius 30 times larger than a red dwarf.  But its mass is 72-80 times lower than a red dwarf. Such a mass is required for compression of the planet so that fusion of hydrogen into helium can occur. This fusion will ignite the planet.

 With this ignition, the planet will become a star. but so by far being similar in composition to solar Nebula where it has 75% of hydrogen and 25% of helium by mass, Jupiter failed to become a star.

 Jupiter to become a star it is needed to be 85 times the mass it has. If it has mass 13 times its current mass it could have been a brown dwarf.

 Jupiter is still contracting at a rate of 2 cm/year due to this shrinkage Jupiter radiates more heat than it receives from Sun. This was a process similar to that of the sun as explained by Kelvin and Helmholtz by this process the Sun kept on shining for millions of years before being ignited to fuse hydrogen in helium. But this shining could not ignite the sun, so this ignition is unable to ignite Jupiter too.

  CRACKING LIGHTS OF JUPITER

 Blue or pink lightning is produced by the planet.  Jupiter has clouds that float on the inner layer of hydrogen. 

 The outer clouds are of Ammonium hydrosulphide crystals. The clouds are in two-layer the thick lower layer and the thin upper layer. 

The clouds of water may also be present underlying the Ammonia layer due to the presence of these water clouds Jupiter has shown a typical lightning phenomenon. 

This lightning is generated by thunderstorms. 

This lightning appears blue or pink due to the presence of hydrogen.

 CLOUDS OF DIFFERENT COLORS

 Jupiter has a low axial tilt. So, its poles receive less solar radiation. It receives more radiation on the equator. The heat is balanced by the Convection by its clouds. These clouds change color when they are exposed to the UV radiation of the Sun. They appear Brown or Orange.

  Amazing Facts About Jupiter

Jupiter radiates heat that is due to its geological shrinkage.

 It has very high pressure inside that could liquefy hydrogen.

 It radiates more heat than it receives from Sun and due to this  Jupiter shines, but this is not enough to Ignite Jupiter in a star.

Its surface temperature is -120 degrees Celsius.

It rotates in 12 hours, Jupiter's day.

It revolves in 12 years, Jupiter's year.

 It is the fourth brightest object in the night sky seen from Earth.

 Jupiter has lightning phenomena similar to that of earth and this lightning is caused by thunderstorms that occur in clouds of Jupiter.

 Jupiter has 80 moons and it may many have more.

 Jupiter is an inhabitable planet because it is a gaseous giant it has a very high pressure inside due to thick clouds its solid core is only of the size of Earth and that is too deep to reside on it.

 

STRUCTURE OF JUPITER

STRUCTURE OF JUPITER

Atmosphere

 Jupiter has a thick gaseous atmosphere, that has hydrogen and helium. Clouds of ammonium float on inner layers. Convection causes these clouds to form rings that conduct heat and circulate on the planet.

Mantle 

Due to the high pressure of the atmosphere mantle is in a liquid state.  It is a large ocean, but it is an ocean of hydrogen, not of water.

Core 

It is the solid part of Jupiter. Its size is equal to the size of the earth, but its properties are unknown.

 Its outer temperature is below freezing point but the inner  temperature is too high to survive

 It has no water in the liquid state.

 However, Jupiter has satellites on which water in a liquid state is found, and these satellites offer more habitable conditions than Jupiter can.

VENUS THE HELLISH PLANET

 Venus is the second planet of the solar system. Similar to earth in its size and material it is made of. It is closer to the earth such that it is the closest planet to earth. Still, Venus is a hellish planet to be habitable. It is called earth's twin.

 Venus has more than 90% of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere. Its atmospheric pressure is 90 times that of Earth. Its surface has not cooled down although it was formed at the same time as the earth was formed.

Venus the hellish planet

 It is well-known fact that the solar system was created 5 billion years ago. Earth started its formation 4.5 billion years ago and during the same time, Venus was formed. Earth took away a totally different journey and become the only habitable planet in the solar system. Venus instead of being made of the same material, same size, and composition has become a hellish planet. It is the most inhabitable Planet of the solar system. Its Rock has not been formed yet. Its surface is only a 2.5million years old.

 How could have Venus renewed its surface?

It is another interesting fact to be discussed about Venus. Venus is a planet as old as our Earth. It is still not cooled down. Its surface is totally different from our Earth. During its evolution, 4.5 billion years ago, Venus was surrounded by thick clouds of CO2. Its surface was molten.

 Like that of Earth, its atmosphere mostly consists of carbon dioxide. Its atmosphere was thicker than that of Earth. Its rotation is slower than its revolution. That its day (DAY+ NIGHT) is 243 Earth days long. Venus is closer to Sun so, it receives more radiation than Earth.

THE RUNAWAY GREENHOUSE EFFECT

(The runaway greenhouse effect occurs on Venus. because venus has a very high concentration of CO2 in its atmosphere, it receives more sunlight being closer to Sun, its day is 117earth days long. This has boiled its surface water, the water vapor escape to the atmosphere, converted into H2 and oxygen. This water never returned to Venus. This effect is called RUNAWAY GREENHOUSE EFFECT)

 Moreover, carbon dioxide in its atmosphere does not allow the longwave radiation to pass out from its atmosphere and radiate the excessive heat it receives from Sun. that has heated away all its water.

 The water is converted into water vapors when reached its atmosphere, where water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is being light has escaped from its atmosphere. So, no water remains on its surface, this runaway or vaporization of all of Venus water is known as a runaway greenhouse effect.

ROCK FORMATION ON VENUS: THE RESURFACING OF VENUS

 Being highly concentrated in carbon dioxide with no water on its surface, Venus has become hot to hell. It is the hottest planet in the solar system. It does not allow the heat to escape from its surface. Thus, it is behaving like a furnace.

   Its runaway Greenhouse effect has made its condition totally different from that of Earth. Its surface has never cooled down, and its crust could develop into lighter silicate rocks as that is present on earth. Its core could not condense and become solid, like that of Earth. Due to a lack of cooling down, Venus could never form rocks and could never develop the plate tectonics that is present on earth.

 Plate tectonics and folding and faulting are the processes that have resulted cooling down of Earth's crust that has resulted in the formation of mountain valleys and other landforms on earth. This has resulted in basalt Rocks sinking below the sea, the continent is made of granite.

 However, basalt Rocks are present on the upper surface of Venus's crust. Volcanism still occurs on Venus All these facts Venus rocks are newer in age. Rocks are not cooled down to become and took final shape.

 Its water has run away. It is surrounded by thick clouds of sulfuric acid and carbon dioxide. Whatever pores available in its atmosphere are clogged by water vapors making it a closed furnace with a high temperature reaching 475 degrees Celsius.

THE MAIN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE HELLISH VENUS

Thick clouds of CO2 on Venus have made its atmospheric pressure to be 90 times that of earth’s atmospheric pressure.

The Runaway greenhouse effect has vaporized all its water.

Longwave radiation cannot escape its atmosphere.

It is hot as a furnace.

This does not allow cooling down of its upper rocks.

Folding- faulting has not occurred, so landforms are not developed.

Internal heat circulation has not developed.

The oldest rock on Venus is only 2.5 million years old.

Its day is 117earth day long.

It smells like rotten egg.

All this has made it the most hellish planet in the solar systems.

Venus is earth's twin who took over a totally different journey after its formation.

If the concentration of CO2 keeps on increasing, the Runaway Greenhouse Effect can also be seen on Earth.

MERCURY, THE PLANET WITH DOUBLE SUNRISE

 

Mercury

 MERCURY: THE INTRODUCTION

Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the solar system.

 Mercury is also known as evening or the morning star.

 It is 8th in the mass among the eight planets of a solar system. Smallest among the planets of the solar system.

It is slightly larger than the moon the natural satellite of Earth. Mercury is even smaller than Ganymede the largest moon of Jupiter, and Titan the natural satellite of Saturn.

 Its surface is similar to the surface of the moon which means, that there is little or no resurfacing activity on Mercury, similar to the moon. Its surface has craters, ridges, and dead-looking rocks.

 Mercury is the least inclined planet to its Orbit around the Sun.

 Mercury is the fastest planet traveling in space with a velocity of 47km/h.

It rotates on its axis in 59 days, while it revolves around the sun in 88 days

 Mercury has a density equal to 5.43 g/cm^3. 

 It can be seen in the evening or in the early morning.

 Mercury has no moon.

Most people can not see Mercury in their life. Why?

 It rises and sets within two hours of sunrise or sunset. Most of the people in their life never see Mercury because it can never be observed late at night. One of these was Copernicus himself, who gave the heliocentric theory of the solar system. He could never see Mercury. So, you can see Mercury only if you observe the sky in the evening or early morning.  In the twilight and during down Sun fail to overshadow the tiny Mercury.

 Mercury transit

 One can see Mercury while it passes through the face of the Sun, an event that happens thirteen times a century. This event is called Mercury transit. The last transit of Mercury occurred on  11 November 2019. 

 It is composed of crust, mantle, and core. Its core contributes to 61% of its mass, Earth's core contributes only 16 % of its mass. It is mainly composed of nickel, iron, and silicon.

 Mercury has no atmosphere or it has a very thin exosphere. In its atmosphere, no one can breathe. Its atmosphere consists of oxygen, hydrogen, helium, sodium, and potassium.

 Mercury has a high range of diurnal temperature

 Mercury has 167 degrees Celsius surface temperature. Its day temperature range to 437 degrees Celsius and its night temperature range to -170 degrees Celsius  It experiences the greatest temperature variation among the planets as its atmosphere can not hold surface heat being very thin. 

MERCURY THE PLANET WITH DOUBLE SUNRISE

 Mercury revolves west to east. Its orbital motion is greater than its rotation motion in the Aphelion condition and this condition reverses in the perihelion condition. Closer to the sun faster it revolves.  Due to these changes, one can observe double sunrise or double sunset on Mercury.

Mercury sunrise(representational image only)

On Mercury, one can observe that sunrises and set and then again Rises. This shows that there is double Sunrise on Mercury for a point of time, the reverse condition is observed on other points corresponding to this point at 180 degrees opposite, where sunsets and then again rises and then sets again. This is due to the slow rotation in Comparision to revolution.

 At its pole Sun never rises more than 2.1 arcminute above the horizon, this is due to the fact that mercury is inclined only 7 degrees to its elliptical Orbit. It has a gravity of about 3.7m/s only.  Its poles are covered by ice similar to the Icecap of Mars. It has craters, created by meteorites bombardment on its surface million years ago. In past, it may have been volcanoes that have created a smooth surface on Mercury. Its craters are filled with ice or lava.

 Can you survive on Mercury?

 It is a terrestrial planet. But, it is not possible to survive on Mercury.

 The first thing is that it is very close to the sun.

 It has a very thin atmosphere similar to the exosphere of Earth.

 You cannot breathe there.

It has a surface temperature of 167 degrees Celsius.

It has a high range of diurnal temperature which makes survival even more difficult.

 Reference

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/mercury/overview/

TOXIC TWIN OF EARTH, VENUS

 

 VENUS (evening star or morning star)

 Venus is the second planet from Sun. It is the brightest star in the evening sky. So, it is also called evening star or morning star. 

This planet has the hottest climate. It is burning like a furnace. Its temperature is 475 degrees Celsius, the temperature at which lead melts. This temperature is due to a high concentration of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere.

 The toxic twin of Earth Venus

Venus is called Earth's twin because it is similar in size and density to Earth. It is the closest planet to Earth.

 However, Venus is not Earth’s identical twin, because it cannot support life on it. 

It has an atmosphere but its atmosphere has poisonous gases in high concentration. Of these gases, one is Carbon dioxide and the other is Sulphuric acid.

 The atmospheric pressure on Venus is too high that it can Crush you. Its pressure has crushed its mountains.

 It can be called Earth's toxic twin because of its poisonous atmosphere in which sulfuric acid forms the cloud of this planet's atmosphere. A high concentration of carbon dioxide in its atmosphere holds heat similar to the greenhouse effect on earth, making it the hottest planet of the solar system. Its atmosphere has a stinky smell like rotten eggs due to the presence of sulfuric acid.

Its sulphuric acid and dust clouds reflect most of the solar radiation, making it the brightest object in the night sky second only to MOON. 

Carbon dioxide does not allow the heat from Venus to escape

 Fun facts about Venus

It has some similarities in size and density to that of earth.

 It rotates opposite to that of earth.  It rotates from east to west. So, the sun rises in the West on Venus.

 Its day is longer than its year.  As it rotates in 243 Earth days on its Axis, however, its Revolution around Sun is completed in 225 Earth Days. Venus’s day is longer than Venus's year.

It is the hottest planet in the solar system although it is far away from the sun in comparison to Mercury still its atmospheric temperature is 475 degrees Celsius, because the carbon dioxide concentration is high in its atmosphere.  The greenhouse effect is very evident on this planet which raises its temperature.

 Mercury on the other hand has no environment as being closer to Sun its environment is blown off by solar winds so, Mercury cannot hold the infrared rays that escaped from its surface.  Further, it does not have a mass strong enough that it can hold the atmosphere.

 Venus's surface is uneven due to the presence of volcanoes, mountains. It has a Rocky surface.

 There is no life on Venus but its cloud may have some microorganism, however, it is not still proven. Its rocky surface is quite new, only 1.5 million years old, that is it has resurfaced itself.

Comparison of Earth and Venus

Category	Earth	Venus
Mass	6 *10^24	4.9*10^24
Radius at equator	12,756 km	12104 km
Distance from Sun	150million km	108 million km
Structure	Rocky, crust, mantle, and core	Crust, mantle( solid), core
Atmospheric temperature	15 degree Celsius	475 degree Celsius
Atmospheric pressure	1013 m bar	90 times to that of Earth
Gravity	9.8 m/s	8.9m/s
Rotation & revolution	Rotation 23 h, 56 min Revolution  365 days Rotates from West to East	Rotation 243 day Revolution 225 days Rotates from East to west

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/venus/overview/