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Jupiter: Earth's Cosmic Protector This animation shows how Jupiter protects Earth! The gas giant's gravity keeps most as…
Jupiter: Earth's Cosmic Protector
This animation shows how Jupiter protects Earth!
The gas giant's gravity keeps most asteroids and space rocks away from our planet. It also intercepts long-period comets that intrude into the inner solar system from its outer edges.
However, Jupiter sometimes sends space objects our way. In 1770, thanks to Jupiter, the famous Lexell's Comet passed just two million kilometers from Earth. The comet arrived from the distant reaches of the solar system three years earlier and passed close to Jupiter, which adjusted its orbit and sent it toward Earth. Fortunately, the comet missed us, made two passes around the Sun, and in 1779, approached Jupiter again, which then flung it out of our solar system.
