New research challenges the long-held idea that Jupiter’s unusual core was formed by a colossal planetary collision. Instead, scientists now believe that it developed gradually as the planet grew.
For years, researchers thought that a massive impact could explain Jupiter’s interior structure. However, data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft revealed a different picture – a “dilute core” that blends smoothly into the surrounding hydrogen-rich layers.
To understand how this diffuse core formed, scientists conducted advanced computer simulations of planetary impacts. The study found that a stable dilute core structure was not produced in any of the simulations, even under extreme conditions.
Lead author Dr. Thomas Sandnes explained: “It’s fascinating to explore how a giant planet like Jupiter would respond to an impact… We see in our simulations that this kind of impact literally shakes the planet to its core – just not in the right way to explain the interior of Jupiter that we see today.”
The findings also apply to other planets, including Saturn, which has a similar dilute core. If these structures are not formed by rare and extreme impacts, it’s possible that many or all of the Jupiter- and Saturn-sized exoplanets have comparably complex interiors.
This research highlights the importance of continued advances in computational simulations and modeling. By exploring different scenarios and testing hypotheses, scientists can gain a deeper understanding of the Solar System’s evolution.
Source: https://scitechdaily.com/whats-really-inside-jupiter