<p>The mass will pull into the shape of the sphere if the body is massive enough. The body will then basically be in hydrostatic equilibrium. A planet like Naboo couldn't exist b/c the denser materials would move to the centre, and the lighter elements would then form an atmosphere around the solid core.</p>

<p>Plasmas require really high temps and a terestrial plantet couldn't compress gases to the temps required to completely ionize the gas. That and what I said about the way the planet would form. There's just no way that a shell of rocky material could be supported by gas pressure in that way. The whole thing would be really unstable.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-27T21:47:15.647Z
I don't think your last sentence is true - so long as the gas/fluid had a polytropic index of $n\sim 3$ (like the interior of Jupiter) it would be capable of supporting a "crust". How that could form is another matter. It is also unclear whether denser material would move to the centre (quickly) if convection is active.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-18T19:38:02.620Z
Hi Rob, the bit about the stability? I see what you're saying, but a planet "like Naboo" would not be able to compress the gas/fluid into such an exotic state, eh?

I have a vague notion of polytropic indexs and what polytropes are, but I haven't taken a thermodynamics course (yet). Can you briefly expound on your  comment? I'm really curious to hear what you have to say. Thx.
PSR-1937-21
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-02-18T20:33:51.637Z
Then just change your last two sentences which posit that gas pressure could not support a crust. It's more complicated than that. Certainly you can't easily have a density inversion, but gases can be denser than solids.
ProfRob
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-27T04:39:22.183Z
2019-01-27T04:39:22.183Z
PSR-1937-21
<p>In Star Wars, the planet Naboo has a plasma core, instead of a molten one.</p>

<p>Can a planet really have a plasma core?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-27T00:19:06.583Z
Normal stars (not dead ones like white dwarfs or neutron stars) have plasma cores. But stars tend to be somewhat warmer than planets. ;)
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-01-27T00:33:01.567Z
Ok, I believe you.
user35971
<planet><exoplanet><planetary-formation><core>
Is Naboo's core possible in real life?
user35971
# Is Naboo's core possible in real life?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-01-27)

In Star Wars, the planet Naboo has a plasma core, instead of a molten one.

Can a planet really have a plasma core?

**Tags:** planet, exoplanet, planetary-formation, core

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Normal stars (not dead ones like white dwarfs or neutron stars) have plasma cores. But stars tend to be somewhat warmer than planets. ;)  
> **username_0**: Ok, I believe you.  

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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-01-27. Score: 3 | Accepted answer

The mass will pull into the shape of the sphere if the body is massive enough. The body will then basically be in hydrostatic equilibrium. A planet like Naboo couldn't exist b/c the denser materials would move to the centre, and the lighter elements would then form an atmosphere around the solid core.

Plasmas require really high temps and a terestrial plantet couldn't compress gases to the temps required to completely ionize the gas. That and what I said about the way the planet would form. There's just no way that a shell of rocky material could be supported by gas pressure in that way. The whole thing would be really unstable.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: I don't think your last sentence is true - so long as the gas/fluid had a polytropic index of $n\sim 3$ (like the interior of Jupiter) it would be capable of supporting a "crust". How that could form is another matter. It is also unclear whether denser material would move to the centre (quickly) if convection is active.  
> **username_2**: Hi Rob, the bit about the stability? I see what you're saying, but a planet "like Naboo" would not be able to compress the gas/fluid into such an exotic state, eh?  I have a vague notion of polytropic indexs and what polytropes are, but I haven't taken a thermodynamics course (yet). Can you briefly expound on your  comment? I'm really curious to hear what you have to say. Thx.  
> **username_3**: Then just change your last two sentences which posit that gas pressure could not support a crust. It's more complicated than that. Certainly you can't easily have a density inversion, but gases can be denser than solids.  

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