Although Jupiter is a great distance from the Sun, it is a relatively hot planet.
Scientists have discovered that almost twice as much heat radiates from the planet’s rocky core than is received from the Sun.
The core’s exact temperature is unknown, but it is probably around 30,000°K (53,500°F/30,000°C).
Jupiter continues, from the time of its creation, to contract at a rate of about 0.04 inch (1 mm) a year, enough to create a great deal of heat.
The planet’s intense magnetic field (between 1.5 and 7 times greater than Earth’s) extends some 4 million miles (6.4 million km) toward the Sun and 400 million miles (640 million km) toward Saturn.
All of these factors, plus Jupiter’s rapid rotation, add to the planet’s overall temperature.
These factors also contribute to the variations in temperature throughout Jupiter’s complex atmospheric weather system, causing brighter and darker areas within the clouds.
Related Posts
-
What Is the Planet Jupiter Made Of and What Gases Make Up Jupiter’s Atmosphere and Core?
According to current speculation, Jupiter probably has a small, solid core of silica. Above that lies a shell of a different form of liquid hydrogen. Jupiter's core is surrounded by dense metallic hydrogen,…
-
What Color Is the Planet Jupiter and What Causes the Different Colors Of the Cloud Bands On the Planet Jupiter?
Jupiter's primary gases, hydrogen and helium, are colorless. Trace chemicals within the planet's gas layers, such as methane, ammonia, and phosphine, are responsible for the colors of the belts and zones. The colors…
-
How Big Is the Planet Jupiter and How Big Does Jupiter Have To Be To Become a Star Like the Sun?
If Jupiter had just eighty times more mass, it could be a star. However, if it were a star, Earth would not exist. Jupiter and the Sun would be a binary star system…
-
How Big Is the the Great Red Spot On Jupiter and Is the Great Red Spot On the Planet Jupiter Permanent?
The Great Red Spot on Jupiter is a persistent anticyclonic storm that is about 24–40,000 km × 12–14,000 km, and is large enough to contain two or three planets the size of Earth.…
-
How Many Moons Does Jupiter Have and What Is the Biggest Moon That Orbits the Planet Jupiter?
Jupiter has sixteen known satellites, but astronomers believe there could be more. The discovery of the four largest, Ganymede, Callisto, Io, and Europa, is credited to Galileo, who recorded them in 1610. The…
-
What Is the Great Red Spot On the Planet Jupiter and When Was the Great Red Spot On Jupiter First Discovered?
Since the seventeenth century, observers have seen a huge, oval red spot south of Jupiter's equator. The Great Red Spot has a greater surface area than Earth: 8,400 miles (13,440 km) wide by…
