Super-Jupiter
A super-Jupiter is an astronomical object that's more massive than the planet Jupiter. For example, companions at the planet–brown dwarf borderline have been called super-Jupiters, such as around the star Kappa Andromedae.[1]
By 2011 there were 180 known super-Jupiters, some hot, some cold.[2] Even though they weigh more than Jupiter, they remain the about the same size as Jupiter up to 80 Jupiter masses.[2] This means that their surface gravity and density goes up proportionally with their mass.[2] The increased mass compresses the planet due to gravity, thus keeping it from being larger.[2]
Corot-3b, with a mass around 22 Jupiter masses,[3] is predicted to have an average density of 26.4 g/cm3, greater than osmium (22.6 g/cm3), the densest natural element under standard conditions. Extreme compression of matter inside it causes the high density, because it is likely composed mainly of hydrogen.[4] The surface gravity is also high, over 50 times that of Earth.[3]
In 2012, the super-Jupiter Kappa Andromedae b was imaged around the star Kappa Andromedae,[1] orbiting it about 1.8 times the distance Neptune orbits the Sun.[5]
See also [edit]
References [edit]
- ^ a b Astronomers Directly Image Massive Star's 'Super-Jupiter'11.19.12
- ^ a b c d C. R. Kitchin - Exoplanets: Finding, Exploring, and Understanding Alien Worlds (2011) - Page 167-168
- ^ a b Deleuil, M.; Deeg, H. J.; Alonso, R.; Bouchy, F.; Rouan, D.; Auvergne, M.; Baglin, A.; Aigrain, S. et al. (2008). "Transiting exoplanets from the CoRoT space mission. VI. CoRoT-Exo-3b: the first secure inhabitant of the brown-dwarf desert". Astronomy and Astrophysics 491 (3): 889–897. arXiv:0810.0919. Bibcode:2008A&A...491..889D. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:200810625.
- ^ Baraffe, I. et al. (2003). "Evolutionary models for cool brown dwarfs and extrasolar giant planets. The case of HD 209458". Astronomy and Astrophysics 402 (2): 701–712. arXiv:astro-ph/0302293. Bibcode:2003A&A...402..701B. doi:10.1051/0004-6361:20030252.
- ^ Image of the "super-Jupiter" Kappa Andromedae b
Further reading [edit]
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