<p>10-30 Earth masses is an estimate from <a href="http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1982P&amp;SS...30..755S" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this abstract</a>, but <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Internal_structure" rel="nofollow noreferrer">12-45</a> is a more accurate answer.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-09T21:21:35.750Z
That gives an answer, supported by a source. The nature of the question is that it doesn't need much explanation.
James K
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-09T17:32:40.603Z
2018-02-09T17:32:40.603Z
harada
<p>The size of Earth? Or bigger? I'd think they'd have to be pretty big to attract all that gas when the planets were being formed.</p>

<p><strong>edit</strong> I'm writing a short story and the setting consists of late eighties/early nineties type of technology and knowledge of astronomy, so a rough estimate as an answer is fine</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-06T11:20:52.933Z
[Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Internal_structure) tells you as much as we know, which is very little.
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-06T13:54:03.103Z
@StephenG [This abstract seems to hold the information I needed.](http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1982P&SS...30..755S)
harada
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-06T14:01:33.000Z
Search for "formation of Jupiter pdf" and you'll get a feel for how many theories and variations on them there are for the formation of gas giants.  Lots. :-)
StephenG - Help Ukraine
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-06T16:42:44.407Z
Wikipedia suggests the question of what materials and in which phase state comprise the core of Jupiter is less than settled.
Carl Witthoft
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-09T02:09:37.050Z
@harada  That abstract is from 1982, before supercomputers.   While 10-30 earth masses isn't necessarily a bad estimate, I'd look for something more recent if you want scientist's best current estimate.  Wiki says 12-45.  But rocky/ice core includes elements like Oxygen and Nitrogen.
userLTK
CC BY-SA 3.0
2018-02-09T13:29:22.170Z
@userLTK True, but for my purposes, a rough estimate would suffice.
harada
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-07-19T10:10:41.030Z
> How big are the rocky / icy cores of Jovian planets? == The core of Jovian planets may be rocky, but they're sure enough not icy!
Miss Understands
<planet><gas-giants>
How big are the rocky/icy cores of Jovian planets?
harada
# How big are the rocky/icy cores of Jovian planets?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2018-02-06)

The size of Earth? Or bigger? I'd think they'd have to be pretty big to attract all that gas when the planets were being formed.

**edit** I'm writing a short story and the setting consists of late eighties/early nineties type of technology and knowledge of astronomy, so a rough estimate as an answer is fine

**Tags:** planet, gas-giants

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Internal_structure) tells you as much as we know, which is very little.  
> **username_0**: @StephenG [This abstract seems to hold the information I needed.](http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1982P&SS...30..755S)  
> **username_1**: Search for "formation of Jupiter pdf" and you'll get a feel for how many theories and variations on them there are for the formation of gas giants.  Lots. :-)  
> **username_2**: Wikipedia suggests the question of what materials and in which phase state comprise the core of Jupiter is less than settled.  
> **username_3**: @username_0  That abstract is from 1982, before supercomputers.   While 10-30 earth masses isn't necessarily a bad estimate, I'd look for something more recent if you want scientist's best current estimate.  Wiki says 12-45.  But rocky/ice core includes elements like Oxygen and Nitrogen.  
> **username_0**: @username_3 True, but for my purposes, a rough estimate would suffice.  
> **username_4**: > How big are the rocky / icy cores of Jovian planets? == The core of Jovian planets may be rocky, but they're sure enough not icy!  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_0 on 2018-02-09. Score: 2 | Accepted answer

10-30 Earth masses is an estimate from [this abstract](http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1982P&SS...30..755S), but [12-45](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jupiter#Internal_structure) is a more accurate answer.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: That gives an answer, supported by a source. The nature of the question is that it doesn't need much explanation.  

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