Temperature of Jupiter
Written by Fraser Cain
Jupiter has a vast range of temperatures. The outermost layers are exposed to the near absolute zero temperatures of space, while the core of the planet has high temperatures because of the intense pressure of the entire planet bearing down at it.
At the cloud tops, the temperature of Jupiter is thought to be -145 degrees C. As you descend into the planet, temperatures increase. When the pressure of the atmosphere is about 10 times what we have on Earth, the temperatures are roughly room temperature – about 20 degrees C.
As you continue to descend into Jupiter, the temperature and pressure increase dramatically. Once you get deep enough, liquid hydrogen is heated to the point that it becomes a liquid. At this point, scientists think the temperature is 10,000 Kelvin. And then when you get to the very center of the planet, temperatures are thought to get as high as 36,000 K.
That's hot, but Jupiter can never become a star, and here's an article about how weather storms on Jupiter form quickly.
Here's NASA's World book information about Jupiter, and NASA's Solar System Explorer.
We've also recorded an entire show just on Jupiter for Astronomy Cast. Listen to it here, Episode 56: Jupiter, and Episode 57: Jupiter's Moons.
Filed under: Astronomy
