logo
Jupiter was once massive enough to hold 2,000 Earths says research

Jupiter was once massive enough to hold 2,000 Earths says research

Daily Mirror18-07-2025
Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System, is 11 times wider than Earth, and has a mass 2.5 times greater than all of the rest of the planets combined
Astronomers have made an astonishing discovery that Jupiter, the biggest planet of our solar system, was once so colossal it could have enveloped 2,000 Earths. Jupiter takes the crown as the most ancient planet in our system, having emerged from the cosmic detritus that remained after the Sun's birth 4.6 billion years ago.

The gas giant's girth is a staggering 11 times that of Earth, which NASA likens to comparing a grape to a basketball in terms of size. Indeed, Jupiter's mass is a hefty 2.5 times that of all other planets in the solar system put together.

Yet, fresh research has unveiled that Jupiter's past form was even more immense than its current state – complete with a far mightier magnetic field. "Our ultimate goal is to understand where we come from, and pinning down the early phases of planet formation is essential to solving the puzzle," explained Caltech's planetary science professor Konstantin Batygin.

"This brings us closer to understanding how not only Jupiter but the entire Solar System took shape." To unravel the mysteries of Jupiter's growth and subsequent shrinkage, astronomers Batygin and Fred Adams from the University of Michigan studied the planet's diminutive moons, Amalthea and Thebe, reports the Manchester Evening News.
With a tally of 95 known moons, Jupiter ranks second in the solar system's moon count. It trails behind Saturn's impressive collection of 274. Amalthea and Thebe are the tiniest and closest companions among Jupiter's four major Galilean moons.

Researchers have delved into the orbital dance of Jupiter's moons to deduce the gas giant's past enormity, revealing that a mere 3.8 million years after the Solar System's first solids took shape, Jupiter was already bulking up to 2 to 2.5 times its present mass. They also discovered that back then, its magnetic field was a whopping 50 times more potent than it is now.
"It felt remarkable that two relatively minor moons provided such clear evidence of Jupiter's early state," Batygin confessed to Space.com. "The real excitement was achieving this result independently of complex accretion models that depend on a series of assumptions."
Adams marvelled: "It's astonishing that even after 4.5 billion years, enough clues remain to let us reconstruct Jupiter's physical state at the dawn of its existence."

So why has Jupiter been on a slimming trend?
The study suggests that Jupiter's once mighty magnetic field yanked in material from its surroundings, beefing up the planet by approximately 1.2 to 2.4 Jupiter masses every million years. But as the cosmic buffet ran out, Jupiter's own gravitational pull made it contract, thus becoming more compact and spinning up its rotation rate.
Jupiter continues to gradually shrink even today. As its surface and core cool down, the core compresses and heats up, causing the planet to slowly bleed energy.
This intriguing research has been detailed in the journal Nature Astronomy.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks over Asia on July 30 – here's how to catch it
The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks over Asia on July 30 – here's how to catch it

Time Out

time2 hours ago

  • Time Out

The Delta Aquariid meteor shower peaks over Asia on July 30 – here's how to catch it

If you love all things stars and astronomy, then the next couple of weeks has lots in store for you. On July 30, the Delta Aquariid meteor shower is set to peak, which should promise a glimpse of its glowing meteor trains in the event of good weather and clear skies. Later in August, the Perseid meteor shower – one of the most prolific of the year – is also expected to peak, meaning you have plenty of opportunity to wish upon a shooting star. For now, here's when and how to catch the Delta Aquariid meteor shower in Asia. What is the Delta Aquariid meteor shower? The Delta Aquariid is a meteor shower that originates from Comet 96P/Machholz, which orbits the Sun about once every five years. The meteor shower appears to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, hence the 'Aquariid' in its name. The Delta Aquariids are not known for their having high meteor counts, but its meteors flash by steadily at a rate of two to five per hour. According to EarthSky, 5 to 10 percent of Delta Aqauriid mtoers leave persistent trains, which are glowing ionised gas trails which linger a second or two after the meteor has passed. When will the Delta Aquariid meteor shower be visible? Technically, you can step out any time between now and late August to catch a glimpse of the Delta Aquariids. However, the meteor shower peaks on July 30 at around 5am – your best chance of catching the celestial show. Can I see the Delta Aquariid meteor shower with my naked eye? Yes, you can! Cross your fingers and hope for clear skies as that's when you'll get the best view of the meteor shower, no special equipment needed. But if the weather doesn't quite play along, you can always bring out a telescope or binoculars to enhance the experience. You'll also want to give your eyes some time to adjust to the darkness so it's best if you avoid looking at your screens and phone. Where is the best place to view the Delta Aquariid meteor shower? Find some where away from city or street lights, such as a park, reservoir, or beach. Look about halfway between the horizon and the zenith and 45 degrees from Aquarius, where the meteors are expected to originate.

Scientists give chilling update on the mysterious 'interstellar object' racing through our solar system – as they warn it's even BIGGER than we thought
Scientists give chilling update on the mysterious 'interstellar object' racing through our solar system – as they warn it's even BIGGER than we thought

Daily Mail​

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Mail​

Scientists give chilling update on the mysterious 'interstellar object' racing through our solar system – as they warn it's even BIGGER than we thought

It was first discovered on July 1, sparking fears of an alien invasion. Now, scientists have provided a chilling update on the mysterious 'interstellar object' racing through our solar system. Using data from the Vera C Rubin Observatory, experts have revealed just how big the object, dubbed 3I/ATLAS, really is. According to their analysis, the object measures roughly seven miles (11.2km) in diameter. That's even bigger than Mount Everest – making 3I/ATLAS the largest interstellar object ever spotted. Professor Avi Loeb, a theoretical physicist and cosmologist from Harvard University, has suggested that the object could be an alien spacecraft. However, not everyone is so convinced. Chris Lintott, an astronomer at the University of Oxford, told Live Science: 'Any suggestion that it's artificial is nonsense on stilts, and is an insult to the exciting work going on to understand this object.' The images of the comet were actually snapped by Vera C Rubin before it was officially discovered. However, since it was identified on July 1, scientists have scoured back through the data to find out more about the mysterious object. In a new study, published on arXiv, more than 200 researchers have confirmed the likely size of the comet's main body, known as its nucleus. Their analysis suggests that the nucleus has a radius of around 3.5 miles (5.6km). That translates to a diameter – or width – of about seven miles (11.2km). To put that into perspective, that's even bigger than Mount Everest (5.4 miles), and almost twice the size of Mount Kilimanjaro (3.6 miles)! That makes 3I/ATLAS the largest of the three confirmed interstellar objects discovered to date. For comparison, 'Oumuamua, which was discovered in 2017, was believed to be around 0.2 miles (0.4km) wide, while Comet Borisov, discovered in 2019, was roughly 0.6 miles (1km) wide. Beyond size, the researchers were also able to ascertain details on 3I/ATLAS's coma – the cloud of ice, dust and gas surrounding it. Based on the images, the researchers predict that the comet has large amounts of dust and ice in the coma. For alien hunters, this will likely come as disappointing news. This composition suggests that 3I/ATLAS is likely a natural comet, and not an alien probe. Previously speaking to MailOnline, Professor Loeb pointed to 3I/ATLAS's impressive speed of 130,000mph as an indication that it might be controlled by aliens. 'It is difficult to imagine a natural process that would favour a plunge towards the inner solar system at 60 kilometres per second,' he said. 'An alternative is that the object targets the inner solar system by some technological design.'

This lesser known meteor shower peaks over Singapore on July 30 – here's how to catch it
This lesser known meteor shower peaks over Singapore on July 30 – here's how to catch it

Time Out

time2 hours ago

  • Time Out

This lesser known meteor shower peaks over Singapore on July 30 – here's how to catch it

Star light, star bright – another meteor shower is now visible in Singapore skies. The Delta Aquariid meteor shower is now active, but set to peak on July 30. Granted that the skies are clear and the moon is not too bright, you may have a chance of seeing the glowing trains of the meteors in local skies. Here's when and how to catch the celestial show in Singapore. What is the Delta Aquariid meteor shower? The Delta Aquariid is a meteor shower that originates from Comet 96P/Machholz, which orbits the Sun about once every five years. The meteor shower appears to radiate from the constellation Aquarius, hence the 'Aquariid' in its name. The Delta Aquariids are not known for their having high meteor counts, but its meteors flash by steadily at a rate of two to five per hour. According to EarthSky, 5 to 10 percent of Delta Aqauriid mtoers leave persistent trains, which are glowing ionised gas trails which linger a second or two after the meteor has passed. When will the Delta Aquariid meteor shower be visible in Singapore? Technically, you can step out any time between now and late August to catch a glimpse of the Delta Aquariids. However, the meteor shower peaks on July 30 at around 5am – your best chance of catching the celestial show. Can I see the Delta Aquariid meteor shower in Singapore with my naked eye? Yes, you can! Cross your fingers and hope for clear skies as that's when you'll get the best view of the meteor shower, no special equipment needed. But if the weather doesn't quite play along, you can always bring out a telescope or binoculars to enhance the experience. You'll also want to give your eyes some time to adjust to the darkness so it's best if you avoid looking at your screens and phone. Where is the best place to view the Delta Aquariid meteor shower in Singapore? Find some where away from city or street lights, such as a park, reservoir, or beach. Give your eyes at least half an hour to adjust to the darkness and look about halfway between the horizon and the zenith, and 45 degrees from Aquarius. Otherwise, you can also head to the Science Centre Observatory for its usual Friday stargazing session.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store