(ORDO NEWS) — A new study by Canadian scientists shows that small changes in the orbits of the planets due to a passing star can destroy the entire solar system.
Our solar system is a fairly stable cosmic “construct”, but small gravitational influences of stars flying too close to us can plunge our planetary system into chaos.
University of Toronto scientists Garett Brown and Hanno Rein have created computer simulations that look at the possible consequences of another star’s close approach to our solar system.
Their simulations showed that when a star approaches our system at a distance of less than 37 billion km, the orbits of some planets will shift.
As a result, the stability of our solar system will be disrupted, and some planets may collide with each other or leave the system altogether. By the way, Proxima Centauri, the nearest star to us, is at a distance of 39 trillion km from us.
According to scientists, for chaos to occur in our system, it is enough for another star to shift the orbit of Neptune by only 0.1% with its gravitational influence. Simulations have shown that such a change will lead to a change in the orbits of other planets in the solar system.
Some models have shown that in this case, Mercury could collide with Venus, Earth or Mars. There is also the possibility of a collision between Mars and Earth, and simulations have shown that Uranus, Neptune and Mercury can leave the solar system altogether.
According to scientists, the only consolation in the current situation is that a similar effect from a passing star can occur within a few million to 4.8 billion years, after the convergence event itself.
“If something like this happens, then the solar system will not collapse immediately, it will be a long process.
Of course, the configuration of the system will change, but it will take a very long time before a complete collapse, ”says Rein.
Scientists also reassure us that such events in the part of the Universe known to us can occur very rarely over several billion years.
—
Online:
Contact us: [email protected]
Our Standards, Terms of Use: Standard Terms And Conditions.