Some changes in Jupiter’s orbit could have serious consequences for the Earth. According to a new study published in The Astronomical Journal, these orbital changes could cause temperatures in the coldest parts of our planet to rise, making those places “more habitable”, or even to drop and cause us big problems.

Since Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system, it has a huge gravitational pull. If its orbit changed in a certain way, becoming flatter or “eccentric” but in the same position, the Earth’s orbit would approach the Sun at certain points. During this period, colder places around the world such as Antarctica and the Arctic will experience large temperature swings.

A detail that is not so “positive” is that places with very high temperatures will also receive this additional heat, which can cause other great difficulties.

Another possibility is even more serious

The second hypothesis, according to which Jupiter and its orbit are approaching the Sun, will cause an even more serious situation. In this scenario, the tilt of the Earth will change and less light will reach the planet. The consequence of this will be a drop in temperature, as a result of which the regions will be below zero.

The BGR website notes that this study, despite bringing more disturbing news than good, came at a convenient time. NASA and other research teams have become even more dedicated to the study of our universe, and the first images taken by the James Webb Space Telescope provided a good impetus for all this. Among the many goals of science, research like this helps in the process of finding habitable planets and understanding what conditions planets must meet to sustain life.

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Via: BGR

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