We Have Jupiter

It is not enough to acquire a Goldilocks zone orbit near a bright star, such as that of our Earth and the Sun, or to be of similar size and range of temperature to Earth in order to produce and then sustain life.  A planet must also have what amounts to, essentially, a “big brother” in orbit nearby.

We have Jupiter.

Jupiter is massive.  The surface area of Jupiter is something over 120 times that of our Earth.  Gravity on the big planet is a bit over twice as strong as that which holds leaf and stone to the surface of our planet.  The gravitational pull of Jupiter may well be the very thing protecting us from a sudden and cataclysmic demise.  Acting like a giant vacuum cleaner, Jupiter sucks from the space surrounding most of the large, Earth-threatening bodies whizzing through the solar system.

Jupiter protects us from fatal collisions.

Thanks, Jupiter!

--Mitchell Hegman