The discussion centers on the nature of gas giants like Jupiter and whether they have a solid ground. It highlights that the Galileo spacecraft's probe was destroyed by pressure before reaching any potential "ground," raising questions about the existence of a solid surface. The conversation emphasizes that the mathematical models predicting the gas giants' structure are based on scientific principles rather than mere guesses. As one descends through the atmosphere, hydrogen is theorized to transition from gas to liquid and then to solid metallic hydrogen, potentially mixed with a rocky core. The presence of meteoritic debris impacting Jupiter adds complexity to the understanding of its atmospheric and surface composition.
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GKDAIR
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I've often heard there's no solid ground in the gas giants, but do we know this for a fact or are we just guessing based off the math?
The Galileo spacecraft released a probe that parachuted into Jupiter. It was destroyed by pressure long before it hit the "ground", if a "ground" even exists.
My understanding is that as you progress downwards through the atmosphere, under the increasing pressure, the atmosphere (mainly Hydrogen), gradually tends to become liquefied and eventually take takes the form of a solid metallic hydrogen. Beneath that, and probably mixed with it to an extent is probably a rocky core. Jupiter is continually receiving hits from meteoritic debris, rocky and metallic. This presumably, plunges down, slowing in velocity as it encounters the increasing viscosity of the atmosphere, and ends up on the surface of, and mixed with the solid hydrogen.
Partial solar eclipse from Twizel, South Isl., New Zealand ...
almost missed it due to cloud, didnt see max at 0710 NZST as it went back into cloud.
20250922, 0701NZST
Canon 6D II 70-200mm @200mm,
F4, 100th sec, 1600ISO
Makeshift solar filter made out of solar eclipse sunglasses
This thread is dedicated to the beauty and awesomeness of our Universe. If you feel like it, please share video clips and photos (or nice animations) of space and objects in space in this thread. Your posts, clips and photos may by all means include scientific information; that does not make it less beautiful to me (n.b. the posts must of course comply with the PF guidelines, i.e. regarding science, only mainstream science is allowed, fringe/pseudoscience is not allowed).
n.b. I start this...
Asteroid, Data - 1.2% risk of an impact on December 22, 2032. The estimated diameter is 55 m and an impact would likely release an energy of 8 megatons of TNT equivalent, although these numbers have a large uncertainty - it could also be 1 or 100 megatons.
Currently the object has level 3 on the Torino scale, the second-highest ever (after Apophis) and only the third object to exceed level 1. Most likely it will miss, and if it hits then most likely it'll hit an ocean and be harmless, but...