Professor of Theoretical Astrophysics at the University of Zurich and member of the NCCR PlanetS, Ravit Helled.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\u201cOnly in later stages, when the growing planet is sufficiently massive, can it effectively attract large amounts of light element gases like hydrogen and helium. Finding a formation scenario of Jupiter which is consistent with the predicted interior structure as well as with the measured atmospheric enrichment is therefore challenging yet critical for our understanding of giant planets.\u201d<\/p>\n
Analysing Jupiter\u2019s origin<\/h3>\n
\u201cOur idea was that Jupiter had collected these heavy elements in the late stages of its formation by migrating. In doing so, it would have moved through regions filled with so-called planetesimals \u2013 small planetary building blocks that are composed of heavy element materials \u2013 and accumulated them in its atmosphere,\u201d added study lead-author, Sho Shibata, who is also a member of the NCCR PlanetS, as well as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Zurich.<\/p>\n