We all know Jupiter as the largest planet in our solar system. But here's something surprising: scientists now say Jupiter was once even bigger than it is today. In fact, it may have been about 2 to 2.5 times its current size, according to a new study.

Astronomers Konstantin Batygin from Caltech and Fred Adams from the University of Michigan made this discovery while studying two of Jupiter’s moons. Their research, published in Nature Astronomy, suggests that just 3.8 million years after the solar system began forming, Jupiter was at its largest.

This was during a time when dust in space had just started clumping together to form solid objects, the first steps in building planets.

Jupiter wasn’t just big, it had a huge effect on the rest of the planets. Because of its strong gravity, it played a major role in how other planets formed and where they ended up in the solar system.

“This brings us closer to understanding how not only Jupiter but the entire Solar System took shape,” said Batygin.

The researchers discovered that Jupiter went through a phase of rapid and intense growth when the Solar System was still very young. Just 3.8 million years after the first solid materials formed, Jupiter had already grown to twice its current volume. During this early stage, its magnetic field was about 50 times stronger than it is today.

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