Could Jupiter have a solid surface like Earth?

Mondo Science Updated on 2024-01-31

Jupiter is called a gas giant for a reason. First of all, it's big – you can fit all the planets of the solar system into it, and there's space for comets and asteroids. Second, it is made up of gases – mainly hydrogen and helium.

Therefore, if the Earth's surface is a definite solid surface, then the "surface" of Jupiter is a completely different story.

Jupiter is made up of atmospheres that go deep into the interior of the planet. We define its surface as the point at which the atmospheric pressure is equal to the pressure of the earth. At this point, Jupiter's gravitational pull is almost two and a half times that of Earth. But it is impossible to stand at this moment, because it is only another layer of Jupiter's atmosphere. The probe or spacecraft will only encounter thick clouds and air currents in this place.

If we enter Jupiter's atmosphere, we encounter an outer layer composed mainly of hydrogen and helium molecules, as well as small amounts of other gases such as ammonia, methane, and water vapor. The region is characterized by the presence of several atmospheric phenomena: storms, cyclones, cyclones, storms, etc. It's a very turbulent place.

If we dive deeper, the atmosphere will start to thicken and become denser. The temperature will start to rise and the gas itself will resemble a liquid instead of a gas.

At a third of the way to the center of Jupiter, we will notice that the hydrogen around us will begin to behave strangely, acquiring extremely special properties. It will start to behave like a metallic liquid. This is because the tremendous pressure forces the electrons of hydrogen to move more freely, resulting in a high-temperature superconducting effect. It is believed that Jupiter's powerful magnetic field is caused by this layer, which is dozens of times stronger than the Earth's magnetic field.

As we get closer to Jupiter's core, things will become more uncertain. Based on the data from the Juno mission, it can be assumed that Jupiter does indeed have a solid core. However, this core is not similar to everything we see on Earth or other terrestrial planets.

Scientists aren't sure how strong Jupiter's core is. Some believe that the Earth's core is a molten ball, while others believe that it is a solid rock with a mass of 18 to 20 times the mass of the Earth. The exact size, composition, and state of the core are not fully understood and are the subject of ongoing scientific research.

So, does Jupiter have a surface like Earth?The short answer is no. Jupiter does not have a solid surface for standing or spacecraft to land. Jupiter is a gas giant made up of hydrogen molecules, metallic hydrogen, and possibly a core, the nature of which remains a mystery. But in any case, Jupiter's core cannot be compared to any of the solid surfaces we find on rocky terrestrial planets.

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