Relating to or resembling the planet Jupiter, typically used to describe gas giant planets with large masses, thick atmospheres, and compositions dominated by hydrogen and helium. Jovian planets are also called gas giants.
From Latin 'Iovianus' meaning 'of Jupiter,' derived from 'Iuppiter' (Jupiter), the king of Roman gods. The astronomical usage developed in the 20th century as astronomers classified planets by their physical characteristics rather than just their positions.
Jovian planets are like failed stars - Jupiter almost had enough mass to ignite nuclear fusion and become a second sun in our solar system! If Jupiter were about 80 times more massive, our solar system would be a binary star system, completely changing the evolution of life on Earth.
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