When Jupiter was in its early stages, it potentially had a flat shape, presenting new insights into planet formation and the wide range of star systems that exist throughout the universe. Given this, the question arises: what was Jupiter's appearance during his youth?
In this article we are going to tell you everything you need to know about how Jupiter may have been flat.
Jupiter characteristics
With a diameter of approximately 140.000 kilometers, Jupiter reigns as the most colossal and massive planet in the solar system. Jupiter, with a mass of approximately At 1.900 billion tons, it is approximately 11 times the size of the Earth and 318 times its weight. Like the Sun, Jupiter is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium.
The atmosphere is characterized by its density and turbulence, with vibrant clouds and massive storms reminiscent of the Great Red Spot. Jupiter, a celestial body that lacks a solid surface, is made up of several layers of gas, liquid and metal that surround a rocky core. Besides, This planet has a robust magnetic field that produces impressive polar auroras.
Jupiter, the celestial body that has the potential to become a star, is home to a group of 79 moons, some of which are of great importance in the field of astrobiology. Moons like Europa and Enceladus are particularly captivating for their potential for extraterrestrial life.
Jupiter, with its immense size, has led some astronomers to classify it as a failed star, that is, it did not light up like the Sun due to its insufficient mass. The general estimate is that an object must meet certain criteria to become a star.
To trigger nuclear fusion reactions in its core, a celestial body must have a mass no less than 8% that of the Sun, which translates to approximately 80 times the mass of Jupiter. If Jupiter had met this criterion, it would have initiated the process of nuclear fusion, resulting in the release of a significant amount of energy.
Jupiter could have been a star
Jupiter, despite being quite far from said threshold, emits only a modest amount of energy and light. Although it is not a star, it exerts a significant gravitational force on the solar system, generated in part by its gravitational contraction and the radioactive decay of elements. This waste heat plays a crucial role in Jupiter's influence on the solar system.
This planet is a celestial body capable of altering the trajectories of neighboring planets, asteroids and comets, it has the ability to redirect or trap any object that approaches. Like most planets, Jupiter has a spherical shape, although it has not always maintained this shape, according to a recent hypothesis.
According to the proposal of two astrophysicists from the University of Central Lancashire, Jupiter initially took the shape of a rapidly rotating disk, resembling the flatness of a pancake or the roundness of an M&M or Rocklets candy.
Jupiter may have been flat
The formation of Jupiter can be attributed to a phenomenon known as disk instability. During this process, the disk of gas and dust surrounding a young star breaks into smaller fragments due to gravitational forces. These fragments then come together and condense, eventually forming planets. In the case of Jupiter, its distance from the star and rapid rotation result in its distinctive oblong shape.
After doing your research, Scientists determined that as more material is sucked in, it begins to form a rounded shape. Intricate computer simulations reveal the evolutionary trajectory of these flattened celestial bodies. Among them, Jupiter stands out as an excellent example, going from a flat shape to a more spherical shape.
The concept that Jupiter initially had a flat shape has important implications for understanding the development and evolution of gas giant planets. Specifically, it indicates that these planets undergo a faster formation process at greater distances from their origin.
Newly discovered information about the star suggests there may be more to its structure than initially believed. This finding could provide an explanation for the presence of certain exoplanets that challenge the conventional understanding of how planets form. On the contrary, It also indicates that flattened planets have unique characteristics.
Planets that deviate from a spherical shape exhibit distinct characteristics, including increased surface area, reduced density, elevated temperature, and enhanced luminosity. These unique attributes make it easy to identify and examine such celestial bodies, both inside and outside our own solar system.
If Jupiter and its flat counterparts fail to gather enough material to achieve a rounded shape, they can remain flattened for an extended period, or even indefinitely. It is important to note that Jupiter is not the only planet that may have experienced a flat phase in its past. This idea comes from astrophysicists who have studied planetary formations.
It has been theorized that not only Jupiter, but also other gas giant planets such as Saturn, Uranus and Neptune, initially acquired an elongated shape as a result of the instability of the disk during its formation. Furthermore, these planets have managed to maintain this shape throughout their existence.
The level of flattening that a planet has is determined by a specific measurement known as flattening. This measurement is calculated by subtracting the polar diameter from the equatorial diameter. In the case of Jupiter, its oblateness is recorded as 0,06487, indicating that.
Uranus's polar diameter is 0,09796, while its equatorial diameter is 6,487% larger. The same applies to Saturn. The values of Uranus and Neptune, 0,02293 and 0,01708 respectively, far exceed those of the terrestrial planets.
Jupiter and its flat counterparts possess a remarkably minimal level of flattening, measuring less than 0,01. Thanks to advances in technology and science, we can now apply the theory that Jupiter is flat not only to planets within our solar system but also to exoplanets, which are planets that orbit stars other than our own.
I hope that with this information you can learn more about which Jupiter could have been flat and everything that can be investigated around this.