O Que EXISTE DENTRO do PLANETA JÚPITER?

Summary

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is a world of extreme conditions and hidden mysteries. Its thick, stormy atmosphere, including the famous Great Red Spot, conceals a complex structure beneath. Through missions like JUNO, scientists have uncovered the planet's multi-layered interior, from icy clouds to the dense liquid metallic hydrogen mantle. With temperatures hotter than the Sun and pressure millions of times stronger than Earth’s, the core remains an elusive mystery. Join us as we explore Jupiter’s hostile environment, where survival is impossible but the allure of discovery is endless.

Takeaways

• 😀 Jupiter is the largest and most massive planet in the solar system, with enough space to fit 1,300 Earths inside it.
• 😀 The gas giant is shrouded in mystery, particularly regarding its interior, which has been studied by spacecraft like Galileo and JUNO.
• 😀 Jupiter's atmosphere consists of cold ammonia and water clouds, with a translucent layer of hydrogen and helium beneath them.
• 😀 The Great Red Spot, a massive storm on Jupiter, is about 16,000 km in diameter and produces winds reaching 430 km/h.
• 😀 The ammonia clouds in Jupiter's atmosphere are extremely cold, with temperatures dropping to -150°C, and extend about 50 km deep.
• 😀 Deep inside Jupiter, the pressure and temperature increase rapidly as you descend through various cloud layers.
• 😀 At depths of 150 km, brown clouds made of ammonium hydrosulfide and ammonium sulfide begin to form, signaling a darker, more dangerous environment.
• 😀 The Galileo probe in 1995 reached a depth of 150 km before being destroyed by the immense atmospheric pressure.
• 😀 Beneath the clouds lies Jupiter's mantle, composed of liquid metallic hydrogen, which forms the largest ocean in the solar system.
• 😀 Jupiter's core may be a diffuse object surrounded by liquid metallic hydrogen, with temperatures reaching over 35,000°C and pressure 25 million times stronger than Earth’s atmosphere.

Q & A

What makes Jupiter the most massive planet in the solar system?

Jupiter's sheer size and mass make it the largest planet in our solar system. Its volume is so vast that about 1,300 Earths could fit inside it. This immense size contributes to its massive gravitational pull and complex atmosphere.

How long did it take for the JUNO spacecraft to reach Jupiter?

It took the JUNO spacecraft about 5 years to travel from Earth to Jupiter, finally reaching the planet on July 4, 2016.

What is the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, and why is it significant?

The Great Red Spot is a massive storm on Jupiter, measuring around 16,000 km in diameter—almost twice the size of Earth. Winds in this storm can reach speeds of 430 km/h, and it has been continuously observed for centuries, making it one of the most iconic features of the planet.

What are the different layers of Jupiter's atmosphere?

Jupiter's atmosphere consists of four main layers, each characterized by changes in temperature and pressure. These layers are made up of various gases, including ammonia, hydrogen, and helium, and contain different types of clouds and storms.

How deep have spacecraft been able to explore into Jupiter's atmosphere?

Spacecraft have been able to explore about 150 kilometers into Jupiter’s atmosphere. NASA's Galileo probe in 1995 reached this depth before being destroyed by the extreme pressure.

What happens to light and pressure as you descend deeper into Jupiter?

As you descend into Jupiter, light gradually fades, and the pressure increases significantly. At certain depths, the pressure becomes so intense that it could crush spacecraft, and the temperature can reach dangerous levels.

What is liquid metallic hydrogen, and why is it important to Jupiter's structure?

Liquid metallic hydrogen is a dense form of hydrogen that occurs in the depths of Jupiter’s atmosphere. It acts like a type of 'ocean' and is crucial for generating Jupiter's powerful magnetic field.

How hot and pressurized is Jupiter's mantle?

Jupiter's mantle, made of liquid metallic hydrogen, is incredibly hot and pressurized. Temperatures in this layer can reach the surface temperature of the Sun, while the pressure is 2 million times greater than that of Earth’s atmosphere.

What is known about Jupiter's core?

Jupiter's core is believed to be a solid, dense object surrounded by liquid metallic hydrogen. At the core, temperatures can reach 35,000°C, and the pressure is 25 million times higher than Earth's. This makes the core inaccessible to current exploration technology.

Why is it difficult to study Jupiter's interior?

Studying Jupiter’s interior is difficult because of the planet’s extreme conditions, such as high pressure, intense gravity, and dangerous temperatures. The thick cloud cover and gaseous layers make it impossible to see what’s inside without specialized spacecraft like JUNO.