Does It Really Rain Diamonds On Saturn and Jupiter? These Scientists Certainly Seem To Think So

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We have heard of the occasional fish, tadpole and even spider raining down from the skies, but diamonds? That is definitely a first! Unfortunately, this miracle is not happening anywhere on earth but over 830 million miles (1.2 billion km) away, on Saturn and Jupiter.

At least that is what planetary scientists from NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab in Southern California seem to think after conducting extensive research, the results of which were presented at the 45th annual meeting of the Division of Planetary Scientists that was held in Denver, Colorado from October 6-11th, 2013.

According to Dr. Kevin Baines, the lead researcher on the project, over 1,000 tons of diamonds are being created every year on Saturn. Given that the ringed planet is too far to actually see this phenomenon, the initial reaction to this assertion is skepticism. But the scientist says that his team's conclusions are rooted in the basic principals of chemistry.

It is a well-known fact that about half of a percent of Saturn's atmosphere comprises of methane. Also, thanks to images sent in by NASA spacecraft Cassini, which has been orbiting the ringed planet since 2004, researchers know that Saturn is susceptible to giant lightning storms and even, hurricanes.

Using this information, Kevin and the study's co-author - planetary scientist Mona Delitsky, deduced that the lightning burns up the methane that is present in the atmosphere and transforms the odorless, colorless gas into something we are all familiar with - soot or carbon. As clouds of the black carbon are 'raining' down on the planet, they clump together and form graphite which gets subjected to intense pressure from the atmosphere as it gets closer to the planet's core and transforms into the shiny precious stones that we lovingly call diamonds. While Jupiter's atmosphere comprises of only 0.2% methane the scientists believe that a similar phenomenon occurs there too.

But before you try get the next shuttle out there, you should know that thanks to the extremely hot core of both these planets, the diamonds do not stay in solid form too long. Baines believes that they melt when they closer to the planet's surface, where temperatures exceed 8,000 Kelvin (13,940°F) and are most likely, transformed into other materials.

Not all scientists are convinced about this new study. University of Arizona planetary scientist William Hubbard thinks that due to the relatively low amount of methane in the atmosphere of the two planets, not enough soot is produced for diamond production - He thinks that whatever little is created, is destroyed by the ever increasing pressure and high temperatures encountered by the soot as it is falling.

This is not the first time scientists have speculated about diamond rain. Uranus and Neptune are long known to be diamond treasure troves. Not only does their atmosphere comprise of 15% methane, but also, the temperature does not get to over 3,820 Kelvin (6,416°F), the melting point of diamonds. This means that the precious stones that fall are most likely strewn all over the planets just waiting to be picked up! While this may be possible some day, for now it is just wishful thinking. Here's hoping that one day our skies will open up and spew out the shiny stuff too!

Resources: dailymail.co.uk, Nationalgeographic.com,Gizmondo.com

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875 Comments
  • tamerjam1910
    tamerjam1910over 2 years
    And if it rained diamonds, falling from the cloud heights, it may even break a construction helment! so you'd have to keep Fido inside for his walk...
    • tamerjam1910
      tamerjam1910over 2 years
      But, diamonds would lose their value, there forth affecting most jewlwery shops and excavations...
      • tamerjam1910
        tamerjam1910over 2 years
        if we just got a whole bunch of the matter to make the diamonds from jupiter, we could literally pave the roads with diamonds cuz' it would be a infident source!
        • andrewliu1003
          andrewliu1003over 3 years
          I would like to live there! (If I can!)
          • gold3nglare
            gold3nglarealmost 4 years
            If we could live on those planets (We can't, it's too cold, and they are made entirely of gas) we would be rich. We would never have to worry about money problems!
            • bruh324
              bruh324over 3 years
              Well technically if it did the rareness of diamonds would go down leaving them to be less worthy meaning the would cost less
            • leiker1414
              leiker1414over 4 years
              Think logically diamonds are hard. And if it rained diamond s there then I would have a bunch of them. ( diamond 💎). And I dont. So I don't believe that. But if that were to be true then that's cool. But tell me if I'm wrong. And no I don't live in Saturn or Jupiter. So I don't really know why I said that. But tell me if I'm wrong Plz. Cause I think I'm not. But idk. Comment what you guys think.
              • Allisonabout 5 years
                That’s awesome!
                • Wonder over 5 years
                  Hmmmm Kind of sounds logical that the diamonds on the planet would make them appear as brighter stars
                  • Namiahover 5 years
                    Like what they alway say the more you learn the more you know
                    • Freedomover 5 years
                      Diamonds are the hardest rock in earths history