Planetary Motion, Positioning and Gravitational Pull

If the centrifugal force of planetary movements did not precisely balance the gravitational forces, nothing could be held in orbit around the sun. Think of a whirlpool effect versus a turntable effect - planets would either fall into the Sun or be cast out of orbit.

Planetary Placement:

If Jupiter were not in its current orbit, we would be bombarded with space material. Jupiter's gravitational field acts as a cosmic vacuum cleaner, attracting asteroids and comets that would otherwise strike earth.

Gravitational Interaction with the Moon/Moon's Distance from Earth:

If Greater?

• Tidal effects on the oceans, atmosphere, and rotational period would be too severe for life to exist

If Less?

• Earth's orbital obliquity would change too much causing climatic instability

Axial Tilt of 23.5 degrees (not accounting for a possible water canopy atmosphere) - such as what Genesis calls "the firmament"?

Any change would cause surface temperatures differences to be too extreme to support life.