How big can planets get in our universe?

Answer 1

Well butter my buns and call me a biscuit! Planets can get pretty darn huge in our universe. The current heavyweight champion is a gassy giant called WASP-17b, over twice the size of Jupiter. So basically, planets come in all shapes and sizes, just like the folks at a zumba class.

Answer 2

Planets in our universe can vary greatly in size, with some being much larger than Earth. The largest known planet is Jupiter, which is about 11 times the diameter of Earth. However, there are also exoplanets that have been discovered that are even larger than Jupiter. The size of a planet is determined by factors such as its composition, age, and distance from its star.

Answer 3

Oh, that’s a lovely question. Planets in our vast universe can come in many different sizes, from small like Earth to extremely large like Jupiter. Some planets known as gas giants can be even bigger than our sun. Just imagine the magnificent views and possibilities in our incredible cosmic landscape!

Answer 4

Oh, dude, planets can get pretty darn big in our universe! Like, there are these things called super-Jupiters that are way bigger than our puny little Earth. Some of these bad boys can be like 10 times the size of Jupiter! So yeah, planets can get freakin' massive out there.

Answer 5

Planets can vary significantly in size based on their composition and formation process. There is no strict upper limit to how large a planet can get in our universe, but there are certain factors that influence their size.

The largest planet in our solar system is Jupiter, which has a mass 318 times that of Earth and a diameter of about 86,881 miles (139,822 kilometers). Beyond Jupiter-like gas giants, there are "sub-brown dwarfs" that are intermediate in size between the largest gas giants and the smallest stars.

When it comes to planets in other solar systems, observations have shown the existence of so-called "super-Jupiters" or "hot Jupiters," which are exoplanets that are even larger than Jupiter due to their proximity to their host stars. These planets can be several times more massive than Jupiter but are still considered planets rather than stars.

In theory, there is no upper limit to how large a planet can be, but extremely massive planets may start exhibiting characteristics of "failed stars" or brown dwarfs. Brown dwarfs are substellar objects that are larger than planets but are not massive enough to sustain nuclear fusion in their cores, which is the defining characteristic of stars.

Therefore, while planets can vary greatly in size, with the largest ones being several times more massive than Jupiter, there is a point at which an object's size and mass would classify it as a brown dwarf or even a star rather than a planet.