Inner structure of Jupiter, illustration. Jupiter consists mainly of hydrogen and helium (around 75 percent and 24 percent by mass). Around 1 percent
Inner structure of Jupiter, illustration. Jupiter consists mainly of hydrogen and helium (around 75 percent and 24 percent by mass). Around 1 percent is other elements and chemicals. The upper layer (clouds in gaseous hydrogen) is around 50 kilometres thick. The next two layers are liquid hydrogen and a layer of helium-neon rain. At a depth of about 15,000 kilometres, the hydrogen molecules begin to dissociate and the electrons flow freely between hydrogen nuclei. The electric currents created at this point generate the planet's powerful magnetic field. Below this depth is a layer of compressed metallic hydrogen. The core consists of heavier elements (rock and ice) mixed with hyper-pressurized and hyper-heated metallic hydrogen. Jupiter has a radius of around 71,500 kilometres.
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Photo credit: © CLAUS LUNAU/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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