New research pins down Jupiter's size, spin, and magnetic state during the solar system's formative years, providing vital clues to planetary formation.
  • @muhyb@programming.dev
    2•3 days ago

    Thanks for the explanation. So it has to be 13x of its mass to be considered as a failed star. This astonishes me, we are so insignificantly small. Hmm, can we assume it just got dense in time then?

    • @WoodScientist@sh.itjust.worksEnglish
      7•3 days ago

      Gas giants get denser with time. They’re, by definition, mostly made of gas. And gas significantly expands or contracts based on temperature. I’m sure a terrestrial planet like Earth shrinks slightly as it’s cooled from its founding, but nothing compared to a gas giant. Jupiter was much hotter earlier on. So as it cooled, it became less puffed up.