The recent impact of a comet or asteroid into the surface of Jupiter has underscored the important role that Jupiter plays in the protection of other planets in the solar system, including Earth. The most massive planet around, Jupiter's gravitational influence is significant, capable of diverting objects into the sun, flinging them away, or even pulling them into itself directly, as was the case with the recent collision.

According to MIT professor of planetary science Richard Binzel, Jupiter's presence maintains a "cleaner" solar system -- good news for all Earth residents who would like to avoid any collisions of the sort that Jupiter seems to regularly endure.

Read more at http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2009/jupiter-0730.html