To turn Jupiter into a sun or another type of star, you would need to add a tremendous amount of mass to it.
Jupiter, despite being the largest planet in our solar system, does not have sufficient mass to ignite the nuclear fusion reactions at its core that power stars like our Sun. Stars require immense gravitational pressure to compress their core hot enough for fusion to begin.
Based on scientific understanding and information from sources like BBC Science Focus, the key requirement is adding significant mass:
- To become a star like our Sun: You would need to add approximately 1,000 times the current mass of Jupiter.
- To become a 'red dwarf' star: A red dwarf is a smaller, cooler type of star. To turn Jupiter into a red dwarf, you would need to add about 80 times the mass of Jupiter.
Why Is More Mass Needed?
Adding mass increases the gravitational pull on Jupiter's core. This increased gravity compresses the material at the center, raising both the pressure and the temperature. When the core reaches a critical temperature and density (millions of degrees Celsius), hydrogen atoms begin to fuse into helium, releasing vast amounts of energy. This process is nuclear fusion, the engine of a star.
Jupiter currently has enough mass to compress and heat its core somewhat, causing it to radiate more heat than it receives from the Sun, but it falls far short of the conditions needed for sustained nuclear fusion.
The Challenge
Adding such colossal amounts of mass (equivalent to dozens or even a thousand times the mass of Jupiter) to the planet is currently far beyond humanity's technological capabilities. It would require gathering and transporting material on an astronomical scale.
In summary, transforming Jupiter into a sun (a G-type star) or even a smaller red dwarf star is fundamentally about increasing its mass until core conditions are suitable for nuclear fusion.
