Internal Heat of Jupiter

Internal Heat of Jupiter

Update: 2011-07-21
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Transcript: In the 1960s scientists were surprised to find that Jupiter emits twice as much infrared radiation as it receives from the Sun. We see Jupiter in the reflected light of the Sun, and since no planet is a perfect reflector, like a mirror, we must receive less visible radiation from a planet then is received by that planet from the Sun. The same must be true of heat as well, yet in Jupiter's case the planet is emitting more infrared radiation then it receives from the Sun. The answer must be an unanticipated heat source within Jupiter. The answer to the puzzle is the fact that Jupiter is still contracting slightly. The contraction leads to the conversion of gravitational potential energy into thermal energy which is then radiated into space as infrared waves.
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Saturn's Rings

Saturn's Rings

2011-07-2100:43

Interior of Saturn

Interior of Saturn

2011-07-2100:55

Saturn

Saturn

2011-07-2100:45

Gas Giant Ring Systems

Gas Giant Ring Systems

2011-07-2100:41

Life on Jupiter

Life on Jupiter

2011-07-2100:57

Ideal Gas Law

Ideal Gas Law

2011-07-2100:54

Boyle's Law

Boyle's Law

2011-07-2100:45

Air Pressure

Air Pressure

2011-07-2100:57

Gas Giant Heat

Gas Giant Heat

2011-07-2101:04

Jupiter's Core

Jupiter's Core

2011-07-2100:38

Great Red Spot

Great Red Spot

2011-07-2100:58

Atmosphere of Jupiter

Atmosphere of Jupiter

2011-07-2100:51

Jupiter

Jupiter

2011-07-2100:55

A Variety of Moons

A Variety of Moons

2011-07-2100:44

Gas Giant Composition

Gas Giant Composition

2011-07-2101:06

Planetary Ices

Planetary Ices

2011-07-2100:45

Giant Planets

Giant Planets

2011-07-2100:40

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Internal Heat of Jupiter

Internal Heat of Jupiter

Dr. Christopher D. Impey, Professor of Astronomy, University of Arizona