Jupiter — the Big Protector

Out yonder past Mars is the asteroid belt, followed by Jupiter, Saturn, surprising Uranus , and Neptune. Those last four planets are called gas giants . The average person may think they were put up there to look nice (which they do through telescopes and astrophotography), but they have purposes. In addition to the asteroid belt, there are rocks and things floating around up there. Those big boys have an influence on celestial rocks with their gravity. The largest is Jupiter, and it has been observed being a protector of Earth. Jupiter and a moon, NASA / JPL (usage does not imply endorsement of site contents) Outer planets protect Earth, but Jupiter has been seen doing so. F'rinstance, Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 was broken up by Jupiter's gravity and its pieces were drawn into the gas giant. It could have been a serious problem for Earth otherwise. Also, a meteor hit is in 2019 . (Interesting that news sources use phrases like "slammed into" Jupiter, but it is gas.) I...