The Jovian Planets, Part I
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Transcript of The Jovian Planets, Part I
The Jovian Planets,The Jovian Planets,Part IPart I
Jupiter
JUPITERJUPITERThe God Of Thunder and SkyThe God Of Thunder and Sky
Physical DataPhysical Data
Diameter: 71,400 km (11.19 Dearth) Mass: 1.899x1030 g (317.9 Mearth) Density: 1.33 g/cm3 Rotation Period: 9.92 hours (radio) Tilt of Axis: 3o
Surface Temperature: 130 K
Physical DataPhysical Data
Orbital Semi-Major Axis: 5.203 AU Orbital Period: 11.86 years Orbital Inclination: 1.3o
Orbital Eccentricity: 0.048 Surface Gravity: 2.53 Earth gravity Satellites: 63 as of 2011 Magnetic Field: 19,000 times greater than
Earth’s
Jupiter’s InteriorJupiter’s Interior
METALLICHYDROGEN
IRONSILICATE
CORE
ATMOSPHERELIQUID
MOLECULAR HYDROGEN
Jupiter’s AtmosphereJupiter’s Atmosphere
90% Hydrogen 10% Helium Small amounts of:
MethaneAmmoniaEthaneWater
Jupiter’s AtmosphereJupiter’s AtmosphereClouds composed of: Ammonia Ammonia Hydrosulfide Hydrogen Sulfide Water Vapor
The Surface Temp.is 150 K (-190oF).
Jupiter’s AtmosphereJupiter’s Atmosphere
Usually brown or red Low-pressure regions of
sinking gas Lower than zonesZONES: Usually yellow-white High-pressure regions of
rising gas Higher than beltsJET STREAMS blow at the
boundaries
LH
H
H
L
L
L
BELTS:
Jupiter’s AtmosphereJupiter’s Atmosphere
Huge anti-cyclone (goes counterclockwise in Southern Hemisphere)
Circulation Period: 6 days Known for 300 years It is 14,000 km wide and
40,000 km (three Earth diameters!) long
The Great Red Spot
Jupiter’s AtmosphereJupiter’s Atmosphere
Hot Surface Temperature: The temperature at Jupiter’s surface (cloud
tops) is about 130 K Calculations say it should be 107 K Discrepancy because Jupiter’s interior radiates
2.5x as much heat as it receives from the Sun Jupiter is still slowly contracting
Jupiter’s Magnetic FieldJupiter’s Magnetic Field
Strongest magnetic field in the solar system Tilted 15o from the axis of rotation Highly flattened due to rapid rotation Distorted The moon Io, revolves
in the magnetosphere, and matter from it accumulates in a torus
Jupiter’s Magnetic FieldJupiter’s Magnetic Field
Matter in the Io torus stimulates the emission of radio bursts
This radiation called decametric radiation
Decametric bursts can be short (S-bursts) or long (L-bursts)
L-burst
S-Burst
S-Burst (slowed down)
Jupiter’s Rotation PeriodsJupiter’s Rotation Periods
Jupiter is a differential rotator This means not all parts of Jupiter’s surface
rotate at the same rate Equatorial rotation rate
(System I) = 9h50m30.003s
Polar rotation rate (System II) = 9h55m40.632s
Jupiter’s Rotation PeriodsJupiter’s Rotation Periods
The most widely used rotation period is System III
This is the rate at which the interior rotates as observed through the radio emissions
Radio rotation rate (System III) = 9h55m30.003s
Jupiter’s RingsJupiter’s Rings
Found by Voyager I fly-by
Main ring extends from 1.72-1.81 Jupiter radii from center of planet
Brightest part is about 6,000 km wide
Jupiter’s MoonsJupiter’s Moons At least 16 The four largest were discovered by Galileo and
are now referred to as the “Galilean Satellites”:Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto“I Eat Green Centipedes”: How to remember their order and relative density(i.e. Io is closest and most dense)
Jupiter’s MoonsJupiter’s MoonsIO EUROPA
GANYMEDE CALLISTO
size ofour Moon
size ofMercury
Jupiter’s MoonsJupiter’s MoonsIO EUROPA
GANYMEDE CALLISTO
active sulfurcrust
moltensilicate
densecore
ice/rockcrust
rockyinterior dense
core
subsurfaceoceans?
ice/rockcrust
water/icemantle
rocky ormuddy
core
thickice/rock
crust
rocky ormuddy
core
Jupiter’s MoonsJupiter’s Moons
IO Densest Galilean moon Most volcanically active
body in the Solar System Fresh surface, no impact
craters Inside Jupiter’s
magnetosphere: decametric emission
Jupiter’s MoonsJupiter’s Moons
Europa Very little surface
relief Smoothest body in the
Solar System Cracked ice surface
features
Jupiter’s MoonsJupiter’s Moons
Ganymede Largest moon in the
Solar System Surface is “Moon-
like”, i.e. cratered and has maria
Made of 50% water Little surface relief
Jupiter’s MoonsJupiter’s Moons
Callisto Perhaps the most
heavily cratered body in the Solar System
Lowest density of all the Galilean satellites (more than 50% water ice)
Little surface relief