BY LETTER
SuperJovian Type
Large Jovian worlds with masses from 8.1 to 13.0 that of Jupiter | |
 Image from Steve Bowers | |
| HR 8799 c, a SuperJovian with 10 x Jupiter masses | |
Large Jovian worlds with masses from 8.1 to 13.0 that of Jupiter, the theoretical upper limit of planets.
SuperJovians are primarily defined by their mass, which ranges from 8.1 to 13.0 that of Jupiter.
These are truly huge worlds, often accompanied by a retinue of major moons the sizes of terrestrial planets. Their presence often precludes the presence of other major gas giants, and during the formative period of the solar system in question, their gravitational influence could have effected worlds as far as the inner solar system, well within the "snow line".
The atmospheres of these planets are very turbulent, powered by a tremendously hot core. Some of the larger worlds glow brightly in the infrared, while great auroral collars can be seen throughout their system.
Curiously, however, SuperJovians do not often grow much larger than Jupiter. The greater a planet's mass, the tighter its grip on itself through the force of gravity. These worlds may become one or two times as large as Jupiter, but beyond that size and the worlds in question are often either brown dwarfs or very dim red dwarf stars.
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Development Notes
Text by John M. Dollan in his Planet Classification List
Initially published on 31 December 2001.
Initially published on 31 December 2001.
