All spinning objects, from carousels to planets, generate centripetal force. If a planet rotates too fast, that force can pull it apart. Before that happens, the planet will experience "flattening," or bulging around its midsection, as seen in this animated illustration of a brown dwarf, Jupiter, and Saturn.
Name | Value | Additional Values |
---|---|---|
Target | Jupiter, Saturn | |
System | ||
Target Type | Planet | |
Mission | ||
Instrument Host | ||
Host Type | ||
Instrument | ||
Detector | ||
Extra Keywords | Color, Rotation | |
Acquisition Date | ||
Release Date | 2021-04-07 | |
Date in Caption | ||
Image Credit | NASA/JPL-Caltech | |
Source | photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA24376 | |
Identifier | PIA24376 |