Does the solar system have an end?

[550W]

太阳系有尽头吗
Is there an end to the solar system?

Mod Edit - Per forum rules, please post in English

 

[COLGeek]

Yes. If you means in terms of size.

See here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_System

 

[Classical Motion]

I'm guessing that we have only observed and measured about half of our system. The outer regions are a complete mystery. Our system might be much larger than we think. Could there be a region at the very edge where the solar wind re-combines? It would give us a omni-directional static.

There might be a rarefied blanket of dust all around us and not know it. This system might leave a debris trail.

Not to mention warning time needed for space rocks. Our outer system should be the target for our exploration. And lots of probes. If the outer system is a garbage heap, we might find some treasure there.

 

[steve_foston]

Maybe the original question was about time i.e. when in the future the end of solar system will be? The Earth is likely to be consumed by the Sun in 5bn years but what about the outer planets and maybe by then we can engineer the orbit of planets to move the Earth and the inner planets to suit ourselves or maybe we will not need to live on planets at all.

 

[billslugg]

If we can gather enough mass and locate it ahead of the Earth and just higher in orbit, over a long time, it will raise the Earth to higher and higher orbits to escape the Sun's Red Giant stage. This only needs to be about one foot per year to stay ahead of things.

 

[Catastrophe]

but what about the outer planets

It seems so often forgotten that, as the Sun expands, in around 5bn years, the outer planets and their moons will warm up. The H and He will boil away - the outer planets will lose most of their mass, and their moons will be lost.

It also seems a very large assumption that mankind will still be around in billions of years time - or even in dozens of years time?

Cat

 

[Classical Motion]

Maybe I'm different. I've never seen the future turn out like it's suppose too. Especially when we're sure of it.

 

[stanwaterman]

太阳系有尽头吗
Is there an end to the solar system?

Mod Edit - Per forum rules, please post in English

Do you mean an end in space, ie: size or an end in time? The answer is yes to both! In space it's just beyond the Oort Cloud, in time is unknown because a collision with another star is possible, but very very unlikely. Otherwise, well the sun will eventually run out of material to fuse, that is only 10 billion ish years away! The universe though will continue, long, long, after that.