How Many Jupiters Can Fit in the Sun? A Detailed Exploration

Introduction

The Sun and Jupiter are two of the most massive objects in our Solar System. While the Sun is the central star, providing light and energy, Jupiter is the largest planet, a gas giant dominating in size and mass among all other planets. One fascinating question that often comes up in astronomy discussions is: how many Jupiters can fit in the Sun? This seemingly simple question reveals much about the scale, mass, and structure of celestial bodies in our Solar System.

In this article, we’ll explore this question in detail—using volume, mass, and comparative science to provide a full understanding. Whether you’re a student, educator, or space enthusiast, you’ll find this deep dive both educational and intriguing.

1. The Sun and Jupiter

The Sun is a G-type main-sequence star (G2V) and contains over 99.8% of the total mass of the Solar System. It is a massive ball of hydrogen and helium undergoing nuclear fusion at its core.

Jupiter, meanwhile, is the fifth planet from the Sun and by far the largest planet in the Solar System. It’s a gas giant composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, just like the Sun, though it does not have enough mass to initiate nuclear fusion.

Understanding how these two celestial giants compare is key to answering the main question: how many Jupiters can fit in the Sun?

2. How Big Is the Sun?

To understand how many Jupiters can fit into the Sun, we first need to grasp the size of the Sun in terms of volume and mass.

• Diameter of the Sun: Approximately 1.39 million kilometers

• Volume of the Sun: Roughly 1.41 x 10¹⁸ km³

• Mass of the Sun: About 1.989 x 10³⁰ kilograms

The Sun is so large that more than a million Earths could fit inside it. But how does it compare to Jupiter?

3. How Big Is Jupiter?

Jupiter’s size is staggering in its own right.

• Diameter of Jupiter: Approximately 139,820 kilometers

• Volume of Jupiter: Around 1.43 x 10¹⁵ km³

• Mass of Jupiter: About 1.898 x 10²⁷ kilograms

Jupiter is so massive that it holds more than twice the mass of all the other planets combined. It is approximately 11 times the diameter of Earth and over 1,300 times its volume.

4. Comparing the Volume of the Sun and Jupiter

Now, let’s get to the real numbers. To determine how many Jupiters can fit in the Sun by volume, we divide the volume of the Sun by the volume of Jupiter:

1.43×1015 km31.41×1018 km3≈984

So, about 984 Jupiters could fit inside the Sun by volume.

This is a remarkable number that illustrates just how massive the Sun is compared to even the largest planet in our Solar System.

5. How Many Jupiters Can Fit Inside the Sun (By Volume)?

Answer: Approximately 984 Jupiters could fit inside the Sun, based purely on volume.

However, this is a theoretical number. It assumes Jupiter can be broken down and packed efficiently like puzzle pieces, which isn’t realistic due to the spherical nature and gravitational properties of both bodies.

If you were to place full Jupiter-like spheres inside the Sun without any compression or reshaping, the number might be slightly lower due to empty spaces between spheres—similar to stacking balls in a box.

6. Comparing Mass: Sun vs. Jupiter

Volume isn’t the only way to compare these two celestial bodies. Let’s also look at mass.

• Sun’s mass: 1.989 x 10³⁰ kg

• Jupiter’s mass: 1.898 x 10²⁷ kg

Now let’s divide:

1.898×10271.989×1030≈1,048

So, by mass, it would take approximately 1,048 Jupiters to equal the mass of the Sun.

This number is slightly higher than the volume-based comparison because the Sun is much denser in its core due to the immense pressure from gravity and nuclear fusion processes.

7. Why Volume and Mass Are Different Metrics

It’s important to understand that volume and mass are two different measures. Volume is the amount of three-dimensional space something occupies, while mass is the amount of matter it contains.

The Sun has a denser core due to the extreme gravitational pressure, which adds to its mass significantly, even though much of its outer layers are composed of low-density plasma.

Jupiter, while large in volume, is much less dense overall.

• Average density of the Sun: ~1.41 g/cm³

• Average density of Jupiter: ~1.33 g/cm³

This means the Sun is only slightly denser than Jupiter overall, but its total mass is vastly greater.

8. Real-World Analogies for Scale

To help visualize the difference in scale between the Sun and Jupiter:

• If Jupiter were the size of a grapefruit, the Sun would be roughly the size of a large yoga ball.

• If the Sun were a giant container, it could hold nearly 1,000 Jupiter-sized planets.

• The Sun is about 10 times the diameter of Jupiter, which translates into over 1,000 times the volume, given that volume scales with the cube of the radius.

9. Can Jupiter Fit in the Sun Physically?

If we ask the question literally, yes, Jupiter could easily fit inside the Sun. The Sun’s diameter is about 10 times that of Jupiter, and its volume is close to 1,000 times greater. There would be plenty of space left over even after placing Jupiter inside the Sun.

However, in practice, if Jupiter were placed into the Sun:

• It would disintegrate quickly due to the Sun’s intense heat and pressure.

• The mass addition would be insignificant to the Sun’s balance.

• Jupiter’s mass is only about 0.1% of the Sun’s, so it wouldn’t change the Sun’s structure or fusion process.

10. Fun Facts About Jupiter and the Sun

• Jupiter has 95 known moons, including Ganymede, the largest moon in the Solar System.

• The Sun rotates once every 25–36 days depending on the latitude, while Jupiter spins in just under 10 hours, making it the fastest-spinning planet.

• Jupiter emits more heat than it receives from the Sun due to its own internal processes.

• If Jupiter were about 80 times more massive, it could have become a star due to the initiation of nuclear fusion.

Final Thoughts

So, how many Jupiters can fit in the Sun?
The answer depends on how you measure:

• By volume: About 984 Jupiters

• By mass: About 1,048 Jupiters

These numbers show us the staggering scale of our Sun and highlight how tiny even the largest planet seems in comparison. While Jupiter is a giant among planets, it is dwarfed by the incredible size and mass of our star.

This comparisons helps us grasp the true vastness of space and the incredible diversity of celestial objects that make up our universe. So next time you look up at the sky and spot Jupiter through a telescope, just remember—it would take nearly a thousand of them to fill the mighty Sun.