Author: Pahu78Pahu78
Date: Feb 21, 2008 13:41
Hot Planets
Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune each radiate away more than twice the
heat energy they receive from the Sun (a). Uranus (b) and Venus (c)
also radiate too much heat. Calculations show that it is very unlikely
that this energy comes from nuclear fusion (d), radioactive decay,
gravitational contraction, or phase changes (e) within those planets.
This suggests that these planets have not existed long enough to cool
off (f).
a. H. H. Aumann and C. M. Gillespie Jr., "The Internal Powers and
Effective Temperatures of Jupiter and Saturn," The Astrophysical
Journal, Vol. 157, July 1969, pp. L69-L72.
"Jupiter radiates into space rather more than twice the energy it
receives from space." G. H. A. Cole, The Structure of Planets (New
York: Crane, Russak & Co., Inc., 1978), p. 114.
M. Mitchell Waldrop, "The Puzzle That Is Saturn," Science, 18
September 1981, p. 1351.
Jonathan Eberhart, "Neptune's Inner Warmth," Science News, Vol. 112,
12 November 1977, p. 316.
b. Ibid.
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