Is Jupiter a giant planet or a dwarf star?
September 22, 2020 | Education
| In this case, it is a question of definitions. If a star is understood as an object in the depths of which thermonuclear reactions are or will take place, then Jupiter cannot be attributed to the class of stars. If stars are understood as self-luminous cosmic bodies, then Jupiter is quite suitable for this category: it emits 2.5 times more than it receives energy from the Sun. In mass, it approaches dwarf stars (1/950 of the mass of the Sun). However, given that Jupiter’s own radiation is infrared and does not appear in the optical region, it is traditionally considered a planet.
