Jupiter – the Planetary Wrecking Ball

Planets with Jupiter in the foreground. Illustration: Joshua Fowler.
  • Friday January 29, 2021
  • 10:00 am - 11:00 am EST
  • Ron Monti
  • Raleigh Astronomy Club
  • Audience: Teenagers and Adults

Four and a half billion years ago, Jupiter migrated into and back out of the inner solar system, wreaking gravitational havoc upon the planets there. This session will cover the evidence for the Grand Tack hypothesis, how Jupiter’s shifting orbit resulted in today’s solar system, and how it made life as we know it possible on Earth.

The solar system with Jupiter in the foreground.

Add Event to My Calendar