Jupiter: A Failed Star

1
Jupiter A Failed Star?

• The Solar System with two stars.
• By Kevin Korinek

2
Facts about Jupiter

• Weight 317.8 Earth Masses
• Distance 5.203 AU
• Known Satellites 63 (as of 2003)
• 4 Large (Galilean) satellites
• Light colored zones are rising gases (cooling as
  they rise)
• Dark Colored belts are sinking and being reheated
• http//www.chara.gsu.edu/mcswain/Astr1010/chapter
  13.pdf
• Contains about the same amount of H and He as the
  sun
• Due to its failure as a star?
• Radiates 1.5 times the amount of heat it
  receives.

3
Jupiter vs. The Sun

• Jupiter is .1 of the Suns Mass
• Both Comprised Mainly of Hydrogen and Helium

4
http//spaceprojects.arc.nasa.gov/Space_Projects/g
alileo_probe/htmls/Relative_composition.html
5
Jupiter How close was it to a star?

• If it had been any denser, it might have
  ignited, like our Sun. Instead, Jupiter has
  remained a giant storm of hot, swirling gases.
  (http//www.maxpages.com/masterplanet/JUPITER_PLAN
  ET)
• If it had been 4 times more massive, it would
  have been a star.
• At this point it would have undergone
  Thermonuclear fusion and Ignited
• We can learn from Jupiter to see how Protostars
  appear, before the fusion processes begin.

6
Jupiter as a Star

• If we were a binary system, a planet would be the
  same temperature as earth if it were at 1.4 AU
  (Mars is at 1.6 AU).
• Most Binary Stars have eccentric orbits, it is
  difficult for bodies to exist.
• Had Jupiter ignited life could not have existed
  on earth.

7
Binary Systems

• Alpha Centauri A and B
• Average of 23 AU apart (ranges from 11 to 35 AU)
• Each star has a safe zone of 3 AU away (planets
  could survive)
• Planets outside the safe zone would be ejected
• Approximately 2/3 of all stars are in a binary
  system
• 1/2 of the stars near to the sun are Multiple
  systems

8
Types of Binary

• Six Main Types
• Apparent
• Only appear to be related, normally great
  distances apart.
• Astrometric
• Only one of the stars can be seen through a
  telescope.
• Eclipsing
• One star eclipses the other temporarily lowering
  the brightness.

9
Types of Binary Systems

• Spectroscopic
• Absence of resolution of any star through a
  telescope
• Spectrum
• No star can be resolved
• Visual
• Both stars can be resolved through a telescope

10
Extraterrestrial Life

• Binary Systems
• If Jupiter became a star, no earth.
• Smallest change
• Strict guidelines for life
• Majority Stars, Multiple star system
• Stronger Gravity
• More Mass taken up

11
Its a good thing we arent a binary system

• We wouldnt exist
• But that doesnt mean that its impossible
• Life is very specific
• Smallest changes can be harmful
• But they can also be beneficial
• THE END!