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How hot and how pressurized is Jupiter’s centre?
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Jupiter
Photograph of Jupiter taken by Voyager 1 on February 1, 1979, at a range of 32.7 million km (20.3 million miles). Prominent are the planet's pastel-shaded cloud bands and Great Red Spot (lower centre).
The interior conditions of Jupiter are characterized by extreme heat and pressure, which scientists estimate through theoretical models and observations of the planet's heat balance and physical properties.1
- Temperature: The central temperature of Jupiter is estimated to be approximately 25,000 K (44,500 °F, 24,700 °C). This intense heat is consistent with the planet's internal energy source, which causes it to radiate about twice as much energy as it receives from the Sun.1
- Pressure: Estimates for the pressure at the planet's centre vary, with some models placing it in the range of 50–100 million atmospheres (50–100 megabars). Other scientific estimates suggest pressures reaching approximately 10 terapascals (TPa).12
At these immense pressures, hydrogen is expected to exist in a metallic state, where electrons are no longer bound to their nuclei, giving the fluid the electrical conductivity of a metal.1