Jupiter was formerly twice its current size and had a much stronger magnetic field, study says

Determination of Jupiter’s primordial physical state

The formation and early evolution of Jupiter played a pivotal role in sculpting the large-scale architecture of the Solar System, intertwining the narrative of Jovian early years with the broader story of the Solar System’s origins. The details and chronology of Jupiter’s formation, however, remain elusive, primarily due to the inherent uncertainties of accretionary models, highlighting the need for independent constraints. Here we show that, by…

Jupiter is shrinking and used to be twice as big, mind-boggling study reveals

Astronomers have calculated that the gas giant Jupiter used to be twice as big as it is now, based on the odd orbits of two of its many moons.

American researchers used two small moons of Jupiter to calculate what the gas giant looked like 4.5 billion years ago.

New calculations reveal the early youth of the gas giant. At that time Jupiter was even more gigantic, but for a small star it would never have been enough

Jupiter Was Once Twice Its Size - And Its Magnetic Field Could Fry Spacecraft

Jupiter's early evolution and gravitational influence played a crucial role in shaping the solar system's structure and planetary orbits, earning it the title of the solar system's "architect."

A research team uses small moons to discover what the gas giant Jupiter once looked like and how it came to its present form.