Chapter 1: The Collision Hypothesis

Recent simulations propose that a planet, roughly ten times the size of Earth, may have collided with Jupiter during the early stages of planetary formation, around 4.5 billion years ago. This significant event could have disrupted Jupiter's core, leading to the changes we observe today.

Unexpected findings from the Juno spacecraft, which has been investigating Jupiter since 2016, revealed that the gas giant's core is larger and less dense than scientists had anticipated. These surprising measurements prompted further inquiries into Jupiter's internal structure.

> “This is perplexing. It indicates that an event occurred which disturbed the core, and this is where the giant impact hypothesis comes into play,” states Andrea Isella, an astronomer from Rice University.

Chapter 2: The Formative Years of Jupiter

Current theories regarding planet formation suggest that Jupiter began as a compact, icy, rocky planet. Over time, it accumulated large amounts of gas from the primordial solar nebula. The core, situated deep beneath the clouds, was presumed to have a solid surface due to the immense gravity and pressure.

However, Juno’s gravitational measurements indicated a different scenario.

> “Rather than a small, compact core as previously believed, Jupiter's core appears to be ‘fuzzy.’ This suggests that it is likely composed not only of rocks and ices but also contains hydrogen and helium, with a gradual transition rather than a distinct boundary between the core and the surrounding envelope,” explains Ravit Helled, a professor at the University of Zürich and a contributor to the Juno mission.

The hypothesis of a significant impact event with a large body might elucidate these findings, according to researchers. A collision with a body 10 times the mass of Earth could have mixed denser material within the core with lighter substances nearer to the surface.

> “A sufficiently powerful direct impact between a large planetary embryo and proto-Jupiter could have shattered its primordial core and mixed the heavier elements with the inner envelope,” the researchers noted in a publication in Nature.

Such a collision would take an extensive period to stabilize, as Isella elaborated.

Chapter 3: Understanding the Impact

Researchers at Rice University conducted a series of simulations to explore how such a collision could have created the core structure observed by Juno.

Impacts at an angle were absorbed by Jupiter's gravitational pull, while Earth-sized bodies disintegrated within its atmosphere.

The simulations suggested that a collision with a body 10 times larger than Earth would be necessary to produce the current core configuration.

> “Due to its density and high energy, the impactor would act like a bullet, penetrating the atmosphere and striking the core directly. Before the collision, you would have had a very dense core surrounded by the atmosphere. The impact would disperse material, resulting in a diluted core,” Isella explained.

The gravitational forces of Jupiter would have significantly influenced the paths of smaller planetary bodies in the early solar system, attracting them towards the growing planet and increasing the likelihood of direct impacts.

Chapter 4: Juno's Mission

Launched on August 5, 2011, Juno reached Jupiter on July 4, 2016. Initially, the spacecraft was set to orbit every 14 days, but concerns regarding its fuel system led engineers to adjust its orbit, extending the mission timeline to complete one orbit every 53 days. This change allows for extended data collection, offering potential new insights into Jupiter.

Juno’s primary objectives include measuring water content in Jupiter's atmosphere, analyzing its magnetic and gravitational fields, and capturing stunning images of the planet's auroras, which are far more impressive than those on Earth.

Juno is expected to continue its orbit until July 2021, at which point it will dive into Jupiter’s atmosphere, ensuring that any microbes that might have come aboard will not contaminate the moons of Jupiter.

Chapter 5: The Future of Exoplanet Exploration

Astronomers are currently experiencing a surge of discoveries regarding exoplanets. Since 1992, over 4,000 planets have been identified in other solar systems, primarily large ones, as these are easier to detect. The TESS spacecraft, launched in April 2018, is set to uncover thousands of previously unseen worlds.

> “We must believe that from our perspective seeing Saturn and Jupiter, if we were on either of those planets, we would discover many worlds beyond our perception; thus, the universe extends infinitely,” reflects Cyrano de Bergerac.

The data collected by Juno may aid astronomers in understanding conditions on these distant worlds. Some unusual phenomena observed around certain stars consist of diffuse “flashes” of infrared light, which may indicate colliding planetary debris, according to Rice researchers.

The combination of data from spacecraft, advanced computer modeling, and artificial intelligence is unlocking secrets about worlds beyond our solar system.

In mythology, Jupiter concealed his actions within clouds, while his wife Juno sought to unveil his secrets. Today, the Juno spacecraft, along with computational models, is helping to reveal the deep, hidden history of Jupiter.

The first video, titled "Study Suggests, Jupiter Collided With a Huge Planet Early in Its History," delves into the implications of this massive collision and its effects on Jupiter's evolution.

The second video, "What If Jupiter Collided With Earth?" explores the hypothetical scenarios and consequences of such an event.

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