Slashdot Mirror


Tiny Pebbles Built the Gas Giant Behemoths

astroengine writes: Scientists have long puzzled over how gas planets like Jupiter and Saturn got to be so big. Current theories suggest the cores of these behemoths are comprised of mini-planets, some 62- to 620 miles in diameter, which collided and gradually merged together over time. But computer simulations show this process is more likely to produce hundreds of Earth-sized worlds. Instead, a new study suggests "slow pebble accretion" is a more likely process.

9 of 32 comments (clear)

  1. Just say by MichaelSmith · · Score: 5, Informative

    100 to 1000 km

    1. Re:Just say by turbidostato · · Score: 2

      "some 62- to 620 miles in diameter"

      My thought too.

      "Wow! Planetary physics must be quite advanced if they can set such a precise margin!" Wait! or else... they *are* rounding up, only not in miles and astroengine is just making up numbers out of his ass.

  2. Re:Magnetism by The+Evil+Atheist · · Score: 3, Funny

    Magnetized protoplanetary matter, how do they work?

    --
    Those who do not learn from commit history are doomed to regress it.
  3. Re:62 to 620? by Viol8 · · Score: 2

    Its also kind of insulting that submitters feel the people on a technology and science site are too stupid to understand distances in kilometers.

  4. Clarity by jbmartin6 · · Score: 3, Funny

    Ohhhhh, sixty TWO miles! That's why my gas giant never worked!

    --
    This posting is provided 'AS IS' without warranty of any kind, implied or otherwise.
  5. Re:Magnetism by wonkey_monkey · · Score: 2

    How is planet babby formed?

    --
    systemd is Roko's Basilisk.
  6. Re:Magnetism by Overzeetop · · Score: 4, Funny

    When two planets truly love one another...

    --
    Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
  7. Re:Magnetism by Rei · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Even stony asteroids contain grains of metallic iron. Iron asteroids are, of course, predominantly iron-nickel alloy. And some of its oxides are even better candidates - most notably, magnetite. I was very surprised when I found that random pieces of basalt from my land were showing an easily measurable magnetic field, until it occurred to me that some percentage of the grains that make it up will naturally be magnetite.

    --
    "99 dead duelists of Dios on the wall. 99 dead duelists of Dios! Take one's ring, pass it around..."
  8. Re:Magnetism by Rei · · Score: 2

    Not sure whether this or this is more appropriate ;)

    --
    "99 dead duelists of Dios on the wall. 99 dead duelists of Dios! Take one's ring, pass it around..."