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Planet formation

The core problem

Nature volume 431, pages 32–33 (2004)Cite this article

Controversy over shock-wave experiments on the compression of hydrogen has broad implications — for understanding the cores of Jupiter and Saturn, and even the formation of extrasolar planets.

In July of this year, NASA announced that it will fund further study of a proposed mission to Jupiter, as part of its New Frontiers programme1. A prime objective of this orbiter mission, called Juno, would be to measure Jupiter's gravitational and magnetic fields at very close range, to discern whether the planet has a dense core. Meanwhile, in the Astrophysical Journal Saumon and Guillot2 write that the existence of a massive core in Jupiter may depend on the validity of an experiment here on Earth.

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Figure 1: Formation of Jupiter and Jupiter-like planets.

References

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  1. Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, 85721-0092, Arizona, USA

    William B. Hubbard

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  1. William B. Hubbard
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Hubbard, W. The core problem. Nature 431, 32–33 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/431032b

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