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.