The finding settles a long-standing debate about the gas giant's formation.
However, until now it has not been possible to definitively say which of these theories is correct."Because we cannot directly observe how Jupiter was formed we have to put the pieces together with the information we have today," Miguel said."And this is not an easy task."To try to settle the debate, researchers needed to build a picture of Jupiter's insides."Here on Earth, we use seismographs to study the interior of the planet using earthquakes," Miguel said.
Instead, the researchers built computer models of Jupiter's innards by combining data, which was predominantly collected by Juno, as well as some data from its predecessor. The probes measured the planet's gravitational field at different points around its orbit. The data showed that rocky material accreted by Jupiter has a high concentration of heavy elements, which form dense solids and, therefore, have a stronger gravitational effect than the gaseous atmosphere.
"Juno provided very accurate gravity data that helped us to constrain the distribution of the material in Jupiter's interior," Miguel said."It is very unique data that we can only get with a spacecraft orbiting around the planet." The researcher's models revealed that there is an equivalent of between 11 and 30 Earth masses of heavy elements within Jupiter , which is much more than expected. The new models point to a planetesimal-gobbling origin for Jupiter because the pebble-accretion theory cannot explain such a high concentration of heavy elements, Miguel said.
However, planetesimals could have glommed onto Jupiter's core even after the gas accretion phase had begun; that's because the gravitational pull on the rocks would have been greater than the pressure exerted by the gas. This simultaneous accretion of rocky material and gas proposed by the planetesimal theory is the only explanation for the high levels of heavy elements within Jupiter, the researchers said.
日本 最新ニュース, 日本 見出し
Similar News:他のニュース ソースから収集した、これに似たニュース記事を読むこともできます。
FBI searching for fugitive wanted in disappearance of woman whose remains were found in TijuanaHAVE YOU SEEN HIM? FBI searching for fugitive wanted in disappearance of woman whose apparent remains were found in vehicle; Mexico AmberAlert deactivated after her infant daughter was found safe
続きを読む »
Scientists Have Found The Oldest Wildfires on Record, Dating Back 430 Million YearsScientists have tracked down the oldest wildfires ever detected thanks to 430-million-year-old charcoal deposits from Wales and Poland. They give us valuable insight into what life on Earth was like during the Silurian period.
続きを読む »
Human remains found in Cleveland identified as woman reported missing in 2015The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office has identified skeletal remains found in a field last month as a woman who was reported missing in 2015.
続きを読む »
Meteorite Discovery Challenges Our Understanding of How Mars FormedA small chunk of rock that once broke away from Mars and found its way to Earth may hold clues that reveal surprising details about the red planet's formation.
続きを読む »