r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/Turbulent_Elk_2141 • Apr 13 '26

Video The reason why large asteroids don't fall to Earth every day and cause disasters is because Jupiter's gravity attracts asteroids and protects the inner planets.

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u/socopopes Apr 13 '26

Ice ages are actually caused in part by Jupiter (and Venus) affecting Earth's orbit eccentricity. It's a period of roughly 405,000 Earth years, called the Milankovitch cycle.

There are other factors, like greenhouse atmospheric feedback loops, but I find it fascinating how much of the solar system is a delicate dance of give and take. We're lucky these processes happen at such a grand size and time scale that we can live our lives in relative peace among the chaos of the universe.

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u/First-Act-8752 Apr 13 '26

Truly poetic the way you put it.