News Planetary Science

Jupiter’s precocious birth happened in the solar system’s first million years

Early formation date may explain our oddball planetary lineup

Jupiter

EARLY ARRIVAL  Jupiter probably grew a solid core within the solar system’s first million years, making it the first planet to form.

Amy A. Simon, NASA, European Space Agency

By Lisa Grossman

- More than 2 years ago

Jupiter was an early bloomer. New measurements of meteorite ages suggest that the giant planet’s core must have formed within the solar system’s first million years.