Eli5 how do we know what the core of distant planets are made of
In: 10
We kind of don’t. We can determine the combination of elements by comparing a planet’s mass to their radius. But that’s like knowing someone’s fitness level by their BMI.
Science can infer a lot with spectral analysis and our understanding of elemental properties at specific temperatures and pressures. We can also determine how active or inactive their cores are (and even how long ago they cooled!) But we don’t know everything. Case in point: gas giants.
As I’m sure you’re aware, Jupiter isn’t just a giant ball of storms and clouds. Somewhere in the depths there’s something… solid. What exactly lies at the “surface” of Jupiter? We don’t know. What lies at the core of Jupiter? Even more of a mystery.
We can’t see that far down, and the properties of Jupiter’s atmosphere are difficult to recreate. Suffice to say, there’s likely to be all kinds of exotic matter and interactions going on. Like metal hydrogen. If you can imagine what that’s like. I can’t. Sounds weird… and explody.
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