Jupiter mystery solved? Scientists reveal how they believe the planet really formed

It's the biggest planet in our solar system and larger than all of the other planets combined and many scientists believe it was formed near the sun.

However, a new study shows quite the contrary, according to research article accepted into the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics, astronomers believe now the planet formed near Uranus.

One of the researchers involved in the paper is from Lund University in Sweden, he said: "This is the first time we have proof that Jupiter was formed a long way from the Sun and then migrated to its current orbit."

And it was a long migration to this point, one that took approximately 700,000 years!

Researchers studied asteroids called Trojans, observing that Jupiter had a lot more of them in front, rather than behind it (50% more to be exact).

The scientists also managed to conclude the planet is about 4.5 billion years old.

According to the study, researchers say the planet picked up steam (fuelled by the gravitational force of gases) and made its way TOWARD the sun, picking up massive asteroids along the way.

Nasa is planning to launch a probe in 2020 to study the Trojan asteroids and learn more about Jupiter's core.