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How does Jupiter protect the inner planets being hit by asteroids?
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
Jupiter doesn't stop other planets from being hit by asteroids. It's actually raises the stakes. Jupiter takes cosmic debris into it's orbit and sometimes launches it at other planets. (including Earth!) Although in some cases Jupiter takes the cosmic debris/asteroids and launches them away from the planets. It's kinda like a cosmic game of dodgeball, lol.
Wiki User
∙ 13y ago
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Are asteroids bigger or smaller than planets?
Asteroids, by definition, are much smaller than planets. That's one reason why they are mostly shaped irregular, unlike planets which are close to being round. The round shape is due to the increased mass (or weight) and only large masses tend to be round due to gravity.
What are the closest planets to Jupiter?
Mars and Saturn are the planets with orbits closest to Jupiter. However, if they are on the other side of the sun from Jupirer, the planet actually closest to Jupiter could end up being Neptune, Earth, or another planet depending on where each is in its orbit.
What are two types of planets in our solar system?
There are the four inner, rocky planets are also known as the terrestrial planets. These are; Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Then there are the four outer gas giant planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The inner planets are smaller and have a higher average density. The outer planets are much larger, but have no real surface - just atmosphere that gets thicker as you travel inwards.
Why are the outer planets called jovian planet?
When the planets were beginning to form the strong solar wind of the young sun blew most of the hydrogen and helium out of the inner solar system. Some scientists believe that Jupiter, being the innermost of the gas giants, captured much of this outgoing gas, adding it to its mass.
Which planets are the outer planets?
The outer planets are as follows; Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The asteroid belt separates Mars from Jupiter so all planets from Mars to Mercury are Inner planets and Jupiter to Neptune are outer planets.
How does Jupiter protect the inner planets from being hit by asteroids?
Am aah if let us say a the closest moon of Jupiter would be protected by Jupiter because the gravitational pull would pull the asteroid closer
Does Jupiter have damage from being close to the asteroid belt?
Because of its mass, Jupiter has likely collided with more asteroids, planetesimals, comets and other small bodies than any other planet in the Solar system. The asteroid belt only gets as close to Jupiter as it does because Jupiter has perturbed the orbits of all asteroids that were closer to Jupiter, either impacting directly, locking them into orbit of Jupiter to become a moon, or causing the asteroids to slingshot away. Many millions of years in the past, there were a lot more asteroids, and they were not confined to the asteroid belt, but the gravitational pull of Jupiter and the other planets have "swept" most of the solar system of these small bodies.
What was foun in a belt between mars and Jupiter?
In between the planets Mars and Jupiter is a feature called the Asteroid Belt, which is a large area of asteroids, or space rocks. Some of these asteroids are hundreds of miles in diameter, and some are just boulder-sized. Some have regular orbits like the planets, others have orbits that are highly eccentric and actually cross the orbits of other planets like Earth, which means that collisions are possible. Dozens of these asteroids have actually been captured by the planets Jupiter and Saturn and are now natural satellites of those planets. Other asteroids are gravitationally "nudged" by planets occassionally during their trek around the sun. There are several theories about their existence, including them being the remnant of a failed planet that tried to form during the earliest part of our Solar System's history. Asteroids have been portrayed inaccurately in media; if you could travel through the Asteroid Belt, you would likely never even see one. Despite the large number of asteroids, the space they occupy is vast, and they are widely scattered.
What is the motion of asteriods?
Like all orbiting bodies, an asteroid moves in an ellipse. Compared to the planets, these orbits have a higher probability of being more eccentric ("stretched out", further from being a circle). That is why some asteroids cross the orbit of the earth. Most asteroids move in near-circular orbits between Mars and Jupiter. A close approach to another asteroid or one of these planets can alter the orbit to a more eccentric one.
Are asteroids bigger or smaller than planets?
Asteroids, by definition, are much smaller than planets. That's one reason why they are mostly shaped irregular, unlike planets which are close to being round. The round shape is due to the increased mass (or weight) and only large masses tend to be round due to gravity.
What are the closest planets to Jupiter?
Mars and Saturn are the planets with orbits closest to Jupiter. However, if they are on the other side of the sun from Jupirer, the planet actually closest to Jupiter could end up being Neptune, Earth, or another planet depending on where each is in its orbit.
What group of planets have rings around it?
Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars are the 4 inner planets (terrestrial planets). Although none of them have planetary rings of their own, surrounding them is the Asteroid Belt. Asteroids are chunks of rock and and dust particles that in the the creation of the sun, never grew big enough to be classified as planets. However, if you are asking about planetary rings, then the 4 gas giants, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune have those, Saturn's rings being the largest, of course.
What 2 planets are in Florida's western night sky?
The two planets in Florida's western night sky are Venus and Jupiter, with Venus being the brighter of the two.
What is that planet that has a super thick atmosphere?
All the outer planets, Jupiter being the thickest.
What are two types of planets in our solar system?
There are the four inner, rocky planets are also known as the terrestrial planets. These are; Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars. Then there are the four outer gas giant planets are Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. The inner planets are smaller and have a higher average density. The outer planets are much larger, but have no real surface - just atmosphere that gets thicker as you travel inwards.
Where do most asteroids orbit?
Most of the asteroids in our Solar system are located between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. It is referred to as the Asteroid belt. They are rocky remnants left over from the early formation of our solar system about 4.6 billion years ago.
Why are the outer planets called jovian planet?
When the planets were beginning to form the strong solar wind of the young sun blew most of the hydrogen and helium out of the inner solar system. Some scientists believe that Jupiter, being the innermost of the gas giants, captured much of this outgoing gas, adding it to its mass.
