The borderline between the most massive planet and the least massive brown dwarf occurs at
A) 1 Jupiter mass.
B) 13 Jupiter masses.
C) 42 Jupiter masses.
D) 80 Jupiter masses.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The border between the most massive planet and the least massive brown dwarf occurs at around 13 Jupiter masses. This is because objects with masses above this limit are able to sustain nuclear fusion in their cores, which is a defining characteristic of brown dwarfs. Objects below this limit are unable to sustain fusion and are considered planets.

The Borderline Between the Most Massive Planet and the Least