How big can a planet be?

1 Answer
Phillip E.
Jul 6, 2017

A planet can be up to about 14 times the mass of Jupiter.

Explanation:

Planets can get up to about 14 times the mass of Jupiter. After that the distinction between planet and star gets a bit blurred. Such planets are mainly Hydrogen and Helium and are gas giants.

A body over 80 Jupiter masses is massive enough to start Hydrogen fusion and become a star.

Bodies between 14 and 80 Jupiter masses can start other nuclear reactions such as deuterium fusion. These are categorised as brown dwarfs which are neither true planets nor true stars.

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