2007-03-20 00:23:06 · 11 answers · asked by darestobelieve 4 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Astronomy & Space
In a way, yes. Jupiter has about 1/10th of the mass needed to become a sun.
Some more interesting facts:
Jupiter has a mass of 317.9 times that of the Earth, and Saturn 95.2 times that of Earth.
Some estimates place the central temperatures of Jupiter at 50,000 degrees C - compared to 5,000 degrees C for the Earth - but the usual figure for the center of the sun is 15 million degrees C!
Also, a very large percentage of stars belong to double star systems, so if Jupiter had become a star it would only have been following the current trend.
2007-03-20 02:30:17 · answer #1 · answered by Stewart 4 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Interesting question. In the book 2010, they suggested igniting Jupiter by adding mass. And I think that it might possibly work. But to answer your question, no. The sun was created before or at the same time as Jupiter and the planets were supposed to be planets, not suns. That's what happens to left over matter when a solar system is created.
2007-03-20 08:40:02 · answer #2 · answered by misoma5 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No, failed stars/suns are known as brown dwarfs and both Jupiter and Saturn are far too small.
2007-03-20 08:26:12 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes for jupiter, but not so much for the others. Jupiter doesnt quite have the mass to sustain the reaction occuring in stars. In many cases though, we're finding that binary star systems are fairly common, and in our case, we're the exception.
2007-03-20 10:21:06 · answer #4 · answered by xooxcable 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Yes, they are *provided* you are willing to accept that Venus is a failed sun as well. IMO, you have the right idea. What separates "planets" from "suns" is mass. Composition counts, too, but surely there is a relatively smooth line connecting "suns" to planets.
HTH
Charles
2007-03-20 08:48:04 · answer #5 · answered by Charles 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Not really. Jupiter would have to have about 13 times as much mass to assemble hydrogen atoms.
2007-03-20 12:52:34 · answer #6 · answered by Nomadd 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No ... they are much much too small. The smallest star known is about 100 times as massive as Jupiter.
2007-03-20 07:39:57 · answer #7 · answered by Gene 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Jupiter, yes - it almost had enough mass to be a star. But not Saturn.
2007-03-20 07:34:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
they are not necessary failed sun, they are more like failed stars. stars that did not have the right amount of wieght to start fusion inside themselves. the nuclear fussion is what drives the energy inside the sun. thus proving earth with the right amount of light to start life.
2007-03-20 10:30:38 · answer #9 · answered by captcosmos420 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
No.
They are gas giants.
Why should being successful as a planet be deemed to be to be unsuccessful as a star.
In fact, how can you define subjective things like success or failure in such cases?
Is your being alive a failure to be dead?
2007-03-20 07:29:16 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋