Did You Know That Jupiter Is Our Lead Guard?

No, not the Roman king of the Gods. The planet. You see, life on earth--and especially intelligent life such as humanity--is only possible on a planet very similar to the earth in its distance from its sun (star) and in its size. The distance from the sun keeps the earth within the temperature range required for advanced life, and its size enables earth to have a life-sustaining atmosphere rather than no atmosphere (if the planet is too small) or a heavy gaseous atmosphere alien to life such as found on gas giant planets.

But what does that have to do with Jupiter? Scientists now understand if earth is the accomplished, finely tuned quarterback who incorporates the life-game plan, Jupiter is the massive lead guard that protects earth from taking too many hits. A massive planet the size of Jupiter is indispensable to life on earth. Why? Because a solar system such as ours--positioned in precisely the safest place in the galaxy for life to exist (that's a whole other story)--experiences so many collisions with asteroids and comets that any life that did exist on a planet would be annihilated in a brief period of time.

So, how is earth different? Because of its massive size and its proximity to earth, Jupiter serves as a massive gravitational shield for earth, absorbing the blows from asteroids and comets that might otherwise hit earth. In short, Jupiter is clearing the way for us through our solar system, and it is located exactly the right distance from earth and is precisely the right size to accomplish this task. If Jupiter were less massive or more distant from earth (only the much smaller Mars lies between Earth and Jupiter), its awesome gravitational force would not be strong enough to draw fire from regular bombardment from space objects traveling at enormous speeds. On the other hand, if Jupiter were more massive, closer to earth, had a less regular orbit, or came into resonance with other massive gaseous planets, it's gravity would interfere with earth's orbit to such a degree that earth could not exist in a zone of the solar system that makes it possible to sustain life.

Well, that is probably a common feature in solar systems throughout the galaxy? Right? Well, no! Did you know that the first discovery of a planet orbiting around a stable burning star (a basic requirement for any life to exist) was in 1995, which lack of knowledge made it possible for Carl Sagan in his time to believe that there are millions of earth-like planets out there in the vastness of the universe? However, since that time hundreds of such planets have been found, most of them at least as massive as Jupiter (Jupiter = 318 earth masses). Of course, the larger planets like Jupiter are easier to find.

What is important though about the discovery of these planets is that none of them so far--not one of them--has the characteristics that Jupiter has which enable the existence of a neighboring life-support planet like earth.

Yes, a few hundred planets is not a huge sample. However, so far, the evidence goes against those who--like Sagan--explain the existence of life on earth as being a common occurrence that was bound to happen repeatedly in galaxies all over the universe. As we develop our abilities to look more and more deeply into the universe, the evidence for at least a rare earth continues to accumulate. And as one who believes in God, this is more evidence of God not only putting us on an earth home that was perfectly designed for us to live, but that in His providence He also created a big brother planet, Jupiter, to pave the way for us as we journey through our solar system.

Flipsidedon

More information on this topic can is contained in Creation as Science by Hugh Ross, President of Reasons To Believe (www.reasons.org)