Jupiters

Jupiters refers to multiple uses, primarily in reference to Jupiter-like planets outside the Solar System and, less commonly, to groups or works that adopt the name Jupiter. The term is not a formal taxonomic class in astronomy but is used informally to describe gas giant planets whose masses and compositions are similar to Jupiter's.

In the Solar System, there is a single planet named Jupiter. The plural Jupiters is not used for Solar System bodies.

Jupiter-like planets, or Jupiters, are gas giants with thick hydrogen–helium atmospheres and, in many cases, sizeable rocky or icy cores. They span a range of masses from roughly a third to several times that of Jupiter and can orbit at distances from very close to far from their stars. A subset known as hot Jupiters orbit very close to their stars and experience high surface temperatures; others, cold Jupiters, reside farther out. Many have complex satellite systems and strong magnetic fields.

Formation and detection: These planets form beyond the frost line in protoplanetary disks and may migrate inward. They are detected primarily by radial-velocity measurements and transit observations, with direct imaging and gravitational microlensing making contributions for certain cases.

Etymology and usage: The name Jupiter derives from the Roman god Jupiter; in astronomy, "Jovian" is the standard adjective for Jupiter-like planets. The plural "Jupiters" appears mainly in nontechnical writing or in shorthand discussions of Jupiter-like exoplanets or groups adopting the name.