NOVA

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Narrator

Nearly five billion years ago, a distant exploding star sends a shockwave across the galaxy. (dramatic music) Causing the cloud of gas and dust that would become our solar system, to collapse, forming the Sun. (dramatic music) Farther out, Jupiter's core is already beginning to grow, gathering in vast clouds of gas. (dramatic music) After 15 million years, the Sun's nuclear furnace ignites. (dramatic music) The light of it's first dawn. Revealing Jupiter. While the terrestrial worlds are little more than rubble, Jupiter is fully formed. Allowing it to shape everything that follows. So, when it comes to setting the stage, setting the structure of how the solar system is going to evolve. Jupiter plays the biggest role. It is the most influential planet of our cosmic home.