Is Jupiter a Failed Star?

Jupiter, a failed star?

Well, Jupiter shares some similarities to stars but its fundamental nature and formation, set it apart as a gas giant planet rather than a failed star.

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has long captured the fascination of scientists and stargazers alike.

With its immense size and swirling storms, some have wondered if Jupiter could have been a failed star.

To reveal the truth, we have to move back in time and investigate the planet and star formation of our solar system.

We will consider the exact moment when our sun was a protostar (a borning star) yet.

Jupiter, the similarities to Stars

Jupiter does possess a few similarities to stars, such as its composition.

Both stars and Jupiter are primarily made up of hydrogen (90%) and helium (10%), the two lightest elements in the universe.

If you wish to deepen Jupiter atmosphere topic, you could give a read to our article Jupiter, Rock or Gas Planet?.

Considering the radius, Jupiter is about ten times smaller than the Sun.

You could fit, insted, about 900 Jupiters within our Sun.

However, there exist stars, in the outer space, which are smaller than Jupiter.

For this reason we can state that Jupiter has compatible dimensions to stars’ one.

Additionally, Jupiter emits more energy than it receives from the Sun, a characteristic shared with stars.

Energy is produced as internal heat and released as X-Rays.

NuSTAR telescope detected high-energy X-rays in the auroras near the northern and southern poles of Jupiter.

NuSTAR cannot locate the light source with great accuracy, but can only find that the light comes from somewhere in the purple coloured regions.

Jupiter, the differences to Stars

However, the key distinction lies in the formation process.

Stars are formed when large amounts of gas collapse under gravity.

This usually leads to the ignition of nuclear fusion at their cores, due to high pressure and temperature values.

Jupiter, on the other hand, formed from the gas and dust swirling around the early Sun but did not accumulate enough mass to ignite fusion.

This is, actually, the main reason why our father planet, Jupiter, did not become a star.

No ignition, no stars.

Jupiter, failed Star or gas giant Planet?

To be classified as a star, an object must reach a critical mass known as the “minimum mass for sustained hydrogen fusion“.

Jupiter falls well short of this threshold, with only about 0.1% of the mass required for fusion.

Without the sustained nuclear reactions that define stars, Jupiter cannot produce its own energy and instead primarily reflects the Sun’s light.

Its gaseous nature, lack of internal heat, and absence of a solid surface further reinforce its classification as a gas giant planet rather than a failed star.

Jupiter’s Role and Significance

While Jupiter may not be a failed star, its role in our solar system is still significant.

It plays a crucial role in shaping the dynamics of the solar system, influencing the orbits of other planets and protecting Earth from potential impacts by attracting and capturing asteroids and comets.

Jupiter’s iconic storms, such as the Great Red Spot, showcase the planet’s complex atmospheric dynamics and provide valuable insights into atmospheric processes on both Jupiter and Earth.

By studying Jupiter, scientists can gain a better understanding of planetary formation and evolution, further deepening our knowledge of the universe we inhabit.

In conclusion, while Jupiter shares some similarities with stars in terms of composition and energy emissions, its formation, mass, and inability to sustain nuclear fusion distinguish it as a gas giant planet rather than a failed star.

Despite this distinction, Jupiter’s presence in our solar system remains of great importance for its significant influence on planetary dynamics and its role in protecting Earth.

The study of Jupiter continues to provide valuable insights into the workings of our universe and contributes to our understanding of planetary science.

It seems you have reached the end of this article. You deserve a prize!

Enjoy this incredible pictures of Voyager 1 approaching Jupiter in 1979! 
Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech

https://www.astronomy.wtf/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/jupiter-voyager-1-approaching.mp4