<p>Jupiter is <em>massive</em>. The Jupiter system barycentre is always well inside Jupiter, close to the core. Here's a typical Horizons distance plot (TDB timescale, 6 hour timestep), showing a mean core-barycentre distance ~116 km. The nominal equatorial radius of Jupiter (where the atmospheric pressure equals 1 bar) is ~71490 km.</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/AJaXbay8.png" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/AJaXbay8.png" alt="Jupiter core-barycentre distance" /></a></p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-30T01:14:41.740Z
I've written *lots* of Horizons scripts, but the distance scripts are often useful. :)
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-30T11:36:46.580Z
I have various plotting scripts here https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/49823/16685 & https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/55927/16685
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-30T12:03:55.577Z
You really do like your plotting scripts then:)
Starship
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-30T12:12:25.273Z
@Starship :) Take a look at the equivalent plots for the other giant planets.
PM 2Ring
CC BY-SA 4.0
2024-09-30T01:08:57.387Z
2024-09-30T01:08:57.387Z
PM 2Ring
<p>Is the <a href="https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/barycenter/en/#:%7E:text=In%20space%2C%20two%20or%20more,object%20with%20the%20most%20mass." rel="nofollow noreferrer">barycenter</a> of Jupiter always inside of Jupiter? If not, then how often does it leave Jupiter?</p>

<orbit><gravity><jupiter><natural-satellites><galilean-moons>
Is the barycenter of Jupiter and its moons always inside Jupiter?
Starship
# Is the barycenter of Jupiter and its moons always inside Jupiter?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2024-09-29)

Is the [barycenter](https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/barycenter/en/#:%7E:text=In%20space%2C%20two%20or%20more,object%20with%20the%20most%20mass.) of Jupiter always inside of Jupiter? If not, then how often does it leave Jupiter?

**Tags:** orbit, gravity, jupiter, natural-satellites, galilean-moons


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## 1 answers

### Answer by username_1 on 2024-09-30. Score: 13 | Accepted answer

Jupiter is *massive*. The Jupiter system barycentre is always well inside Jupiter, close to the core. Here's a typical Horizons distance plot (TDB timescale, 6 hour timestep), showing a mean core-barycentre distance ~116 km. The nominal equatorial radius of Jupiter (where the atmospheric pressure equals 1 bar) is ~71490 km.

[![Jupiter core-barycentre distance](https://i.sstatic.net/AJaXbay8.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/AJaXbay8.png)

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: I've written *lots* of Horizons scripts, but the distance scripts are often useful. :)  
> **username_1**: I have various plotting scripts here https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/49823/16685 & https://astronomy.stackexchange.com/a/55927/16685  
> **username_0**: You really do like your plotting scripts then:)  
> **username_1**: @username_0 :) Take a look at the equivalent plots for the other giant planets.  

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