Jupiter radius

The Jupiter radius or Jovian radius (RJ or RJup) has a value of 71,492 km (44,423 mi), or 11.2 Earth radii (R)[2] (one Earth radius equals 0.08921 RJ). The Jupiter radius is a unit of length used in astronomy to describe the radii of gas giants and some extrasolar planets. It is also used in describing brown dwarfs.

Jupiter radius
The size of Jupiter compared to Earth
General information
Unit systemastronomy
Unit oflength
SymbolRJorRJup,R
Conversions
1 RJ in ...... is equal to ...
   SI base units   7.1492×107 m[1]
    English units   44423 mi

In 2015, the International Astronomical Union defined the nominal equatorial Jovian radius to remain constant regardless of subsequent improvements in measurement precision of RJ. This constant is defined as exactly:

= 7.1492×107 m

Similarly, the nominal polar Jovian radius is defined to be exactly:

= 6.6854×107 m[1]

These values correspond to the radius of Jupiter at 1 bar of pressure. The common usage is to refer to the equatorial radius, unless the polar radius is specifically needed.

Comparison

Radii of noteworthy astronomical objects relative to Jupiter
Object RJ / Robject Ref
Lunar radius 41
Earth radius 11.209 [2]
Jupiter 1 by definition
Solar radius 0.10045

For comparison, one Solar radius is equivalent to:

  • 400 Lunar radius(RL)
  • 109 Earth radius (R)
  • 9.735 Jupiter radius (RJ)

References

  1. Mamajek, E. E; Prsa, A; Torres, G; et al. (2015). "IAU 2015 Resolution B3 on Recommended Nominal Conversion Constants for Selected Solar and Planetary Properties". arXiv:1510.07674 [astro-ph.SR].
  2. Williams, Dr. David R. (2 November 2007). "Jupiter Fact Sheet". NASA. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
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