Jupiter: Gas Planet? Landing Possibility & Facts

In summary, it is certain that Jupiter is a gas planet due to its internal structure and well-tested Laws of Nature. While it may not be impossible to walk on its solid core, the extreme pressure and temperatures make it highly unlikely. Additionally, objects have landed on Jupiter in the past, such as a comet. For further information on Jupiter's structure, a review article is available on the arXiv.
  • #1
Zeref
1
0
How do we know for sure that that it's not possible to walk on Jupiter and that it is a gas planet?
Did something ever land on it?
 
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  • #2
Welcome to PF;
We can be absolutely certain that Jupiter is a "gas planet" because that is a matter of semantics not Nature.

Have you looked up the internal structure of Jupiter?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Internal_structure
... Jupiter is thought to have a solid core.

Our level of certainty about the current model for Jupiter, such as it is, actually being a fair representation of the factual Jupiter, rests on well tested Laws of Nature, like gravitation, and the observations that have been possible. There may be some differences in the details but the major brush strokes are pretty solid.

I don't think anyone is saying that walking on the core is "impossible" exactly... it's just that 3000GPa (3000,000,000 atmos) pressure and 35,000K temperatures are a wee bit of a barrier. If we could come up with a structure capable of withstanding that, there is still the matter of the remaining 12-45g gravity. But there should be something to walk on.

A number of objects have "landed" on Jupiter ... most prominently a comet.
Well ... more sort of ... crash... really...
 
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  • #3
If you really want to learn about it, there is an excellent review article on the structure of the gas giants that has just been posted on the arXiv:

http://arxiv.org/abs/1405.3752
 

1. What makes Jupiter a gas planet?

Jupiter is composed primarily of gas, specifically hydrogen and helium. It does not have a solid surface like Earth, but rather a thick atmosphere that gradually transitions into a liquid and then a solid core.

2. Is it possible to land on Jupiter?

No, it is not currently possible to land on Jupiter. Its atmosphere is far too thick and turbulent for any spacecraft to survive. Additionally, the intense gravity and radiation would pose significant challenges for any landing attempt.

3. Are there any missions planned to land on Jupiter?

There are currently no missions planned to land on Jupiter. However, NASA's Juno spacecraft is currently in orbit around Jupiter, studying the planet's atmosphere and magnetic field. Future missions may focus on exploring Jupiter's moons rather than attempting to land on the planet itself.

4. What are some interesting facts about Jupiter?

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, with a diameter of over 142,000 kilometers. It has more than double the mass of all the other planets combined. Jupiter also has the shortest day of any planet, with its rotation taking only 9 hours and 56 minutes.

5. Could Jupiter ever become a habitable planet?

No, Jupiter is not capable of becoming a habitable planet. Its composition and location in our solar system make it unsuitable for life as we know it. However, some of Jupiter's moons, such as Europa, may have the potential for life due to the presence of liquid water on their surfaces.

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