Differences from Jupiter:
- Saturn: smaller metallic hydrogen core than Jupiter
- Uranus & Neptune: no metallic hydrogen core
Why does Saturn have a high temperature?
Liquid hydrogen and liquid helium are immiscible - they do not mix (like oil and water).
- What happens to the heavier helium?
- How would this produce heat?
- What does this predict about the chemical composition of Saturns's atmosphere?
Instead of pressure ionizing hydrogen,
in U & N, we may have ionized water (particularly H
3O+ and OH-) forming an ionic ocean deep inside the planets. Such an
ionic ocean can dissolve ammonia, but not methane -- U & N have methane
rich atmospheres. Danger: these are not oceans like the Earth's, but rather material in liquid states at high temperature and densities. No surfing allowed! |
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