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Jupiter analogue

Jupiter analogue is a astronomy topic covered in the lgStudy science library. This page brings together a partial reference excerpt, illustrations, worked examples, real-world applications and a short study plan, so you can understand Jupiter analogue rather than just read about it. In short: Jupiter analogues, also known as Jupiter-like planets, are exoplanets that are similar to the planet Jupiter, the fifth and largest planet in the Solar System. They are often defined as planets that has at least 1 Jupiter mass or larger and orbits its host star at a distance 3 to 12 astronomical units (AU), roughly one to a few times that of the systems snow line.

Jupiter analogue — main illustration
Jupiter analogue — illustration

Key takeaways

  • Jupiter analogue belongs to astronomy; place it in that map before memorising details.
  • Learn the definition first, then one example that makes the definition concrete.
  • Connect Jupiter analogue to a quantity you can measure, compute or draw — that is where exam questions come from.
  • Reproduce the core statement of Jupiter analogue from memory before moving on to harder problems.

Reference excerpt

Jupiter analogues, also known as Jupiter-like planets, are exoplanets that are similar to the planet Jupiter, the fifth and largest planet in the Solar System. They are often defined as planets that has at least 1 Jupiter mass or larger and orbits its host star at a distance 3 to 12 astronomical units (AU), roughly one to a few times that of the systems snow line. The lower limit of mass for Jupiter-like planets is not well defined as it can be as low of 0.8-0.3 Jupiter masses to include planets like Saturn.

Formation and evolution

While the exact formation of Jupiter-like exoplanets are not known, models of gas giant planet formation predict that Jupiter-like planets should easily form around stars similar to the Sun through core-accretion mechanisms. This therefore should make planets similar to Jupiter a common occurrence in the universe with roughly 6-20% of Sun-like stars having Jupiter-like planets. But this number varies from low rates like 6.9% to higher rates like 25%. It has been found that Jupiter analogues are very rare in mid to late type M-dwarf stars with 0.1-0.3 solar masses. There has been some detections of Jupiter-like planets around red dwarf stars such as TOI-4860b with 0.67 Jupiter masses. The time it takes for form Jupiter-like planets is typically 3-5 million years but some estimates place the formation of Jupiter-like exoplanets to around 1-2 million years.

Effect on their systems

Jupiter has played a major role in the evolution of the Solar System, determining much of its structure and the configuration of Solar System bodies. It is likely that Jupiter-like exoplanets play a similar role in their systems.

Examples

With their common occurrence and their increased chance of detection, there are many exoplanets discovered that have been classed as Jupiter analogues. The nearby exoplanet Epsilon Eridani b, 10.5 light-years away, has been described as "a remarkably close analog to our own planet Jupiter" and "one of the closest analogs to a Solar System planet yet detected around a nearby star". Kepler-167e is an exoplanet orbiting the K-type main sequence star Kepler-167. Its mass and radius is very similar to Jupiter with about 1 Jupiter mass and 0.9 Jupiter radii. Around the young F-type main sequence star 51 Eridani, there is a Jupiter-like planet named 51 Eridani b. This exoplanet has been directly imaged.

References

Illustrations

Jupiter analogue: Jupiter is a gas giant. It is the fifth and largest planet in the Solar System.
Jupiter is a gas giant. It is the fifth and largest planet in the Solar System.
Jupiter analogue: Artistic rendering of a young gas giant planet HD 100546.
Artistic rendering of a young gas giant planet HD 100546.
Jupiter analogue: A simulation model of the Nice model of Solar System evolution. It involves the rapid migration of the gas giants and the ice giant planets. This had profound effect on the structure of the modern Solar System.
A simulation model of the Nice model of Solar System evolution. It involves the rapid migration of the gas giants and the ice giant planets. This had profound effect on the structure of the modern Solar System.
Jupiter analogue: An artistic rendering of HIP 11915, a Jupiter analogue.
An artistic rendering of HIP 11915, a Jupiter analogue.

Worked examples

Example 1 — a first encounter with Jupiter analogue

Start with the simplest possible case. Write down what Jupiter analogue claims or describes in one sentence, then invent the smallest concrete situation in which that sentence is true. In astronomy, the smallest case is usually a single object, a single equation or a single measurement. Check that every symbol or term in your sentence has a meaning in that case.

Example 2 — changing one variable

Take the situation from Example 1 and change exactly one quantity: double it, halve it, or set it to zero. Predict what should happen to Jupiter analogue before you calculate. Comparing your prediction with the result is the fastest way to find out whether you understand the idea or only the words.

Example 3 — an exam-style question

Typical questions about Jupiter analogue ask you to (a) state it precisely, (b) apply it to given data, and (c) explain a limitation. Practise writing all three answers in under five minutes; the third part is what separates a full-mark answer from an average one.

Applications of Jupiter analogue

In research
Jupiter analogue appears in astronomy research whenever the underlying quantities have to be modelled precisely. Papers usually cite it as a starting assumption and then explore where it breaks down.
In technology and industry
Engineering practice reuses Jupiter analogue in design rules, simulations and safety margins. Knowing the idea lets you read a specification sheet and understand why the numbers look the way they do.
In the classroom
Jupiter analogue is common in secondary-school and first-year university syllabi. It links to neighbouring topics Exoplanet stubs, Types of planet, so understanding it makes those chapters shorter.
In everyday life
Look for Jupiter analogue outside the textbook — in sport, cooking, traffic, electronics or the sky above you. An example you found yourself is remembered far longer than one you were given.

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How to study Jupiter analogue in 20 minutes

  1. Read the reference excerpt below once, without taking notes.
  2. Close the page and write down what Jupiter analogue means in your own words.
  3. Compare your version with the excerpt and mark what you missed.
  4. Work through the three examples above with pen and paper.
  5. Explain Jupiter analogue out loud to somebody else — or to Teacher Smith in the lgStudy chat.

Frequently asked questions

What is Jupiter analogue in simple terms?

Jupiter analogues, also known as Jupiter-like planets, are exoplanets that are similar to the planet Jupiter, the fifth and largest planet in the Solar System. They are often defined as planets that has at least 1 Jupiter mass or larger and orbits its host star at a distance 3 to 12 astronomical un…

Why does Jupiter analogue matter?

Because it connects several astronomy ideas at once: it gives you a definition you can apply, a quantity you can calculate, and a way to check whether a result is plausible.

How should I study Jupiter analogue?

Read the excerpt, restate it from memory, then work through the examples and applications listed on this page. The five-step study plan above takes about twenty minutes.

What does this page cover?

It gives you a compact reference excerpt plus original lgStudy explanations, examples, applications and study material on Jupiter analogue.

Tags

  • Exoplanet stubs
  • Types of planet

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