Is Jupiter a planet?

Question

It seems that Jupiter gives off more energy than it receives from the sun as a result of fusion at its core and its structure is gaseous much more like the sun than the earth. Is Jupiter really a dwarf star in orbit around the sun as opposed to being a planet?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georeactor

Answer 1

There isn't any singular "scientific definition" of what's a planet, it's more a matter of convention and nomenclature. So, if the astronomy community wants to call Jupiter a planet, it is, until they decide to change the definition of a planet.

Answer 2

Jupiter is the lowest mass sub-brown dwarf star. Since Jupiter and the Sun orbit eachother Jupiter does not fit the definition of a planet given by the International Astronomical Union. Since Jupiter meets all of the definition of a sub-brown dwarf star Io, Europa, Gannymede, and Callisto should be considered Jupiter s planets not its moons.

Answer 3

Jupiter is a planet. Jupiter accounts for somewhere around 97% of the planetary mass in the solar system. Jupiter could never have become a star.

Answer 4

Jupiter (IPA: /ˈdʒuːpɪtə/) is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest within the solar system. Jupiter and the other gas giants—Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—are sometimes referred to as "Jovian planets".

You could get more information from the link below...

Answer 5

You make a valid point about the energy given off, however, it lacks the mass required to be considered a star by I think a factor of 10 (ie it would have to be 10 times its present mass for fusion to be at any appreciable level).

Answer 6

Of course it is and so is the moon called Io. Have you ever heard of a star that has clouds blowing in its atmosphere? Only planets have such.

Have you ever heard of a planet that emits other radiation besides infra-red (heat) such as Gamma and X-rays? Only stars do so.

Think about it. Cheers.

Answer 7

It's a planet because of it's immense gravitational pull.

It's not a star because it isn't fusioning

nuclear material to give off the magnitude of light that a star emanates.

Answer 8

yes of course. Jupiter is a planet

Answer 9

Its a planet. The biggest planet in the solar system.

Answer 10

Is the Pope really a Catholic?