Jovian

Jovian is an English term used as an adjective and a noun to denote relations to Jupiter, the largest planet in the Solar System. The word is derived from Jupiter’s name, via the Latin form Iuppiter, and is commonly used in astronomy to indicate things associated with Jupiter or with Jupiter-like characteristics.

In planetary science, Jovian planets (or gas giants) refer to the outer planets Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. They are large worlds with thick atmospheres dominated by hydrogen and helium, lacking a well-defined solid surface, and possessing strong gravity, extensive magnetospheres, and often ring systems and numerous moons. They contrast with terrestrial planets, which are smaller and rocky.

The term Jovian is also used in exoplanet studies to describe planets similar in size and composition to Jupiter. This includes gas giants that orbit far from their stars, as well as hot Jupiters, which are gas giants that orbit very close to their stars. In addition to scientific usage, Jovian appears in cultural and literary contexts as an attribute of things related to Jupiter, such as myths, symbolism, or hypothetical Jovian atmospheres.