Here's the devastating impact a super-Earth would have on our solar system

[Admin]

A study simulated what would happen if a super-Earth orbited in the middle of our solar system, and the results are chaotic.

Here's the devastating impact a super-Earth would have on our solar system : Read more

 

[rod]

The simulation shows real problems with Earth and terrestrial planets in 10^7 years or so.

The planet that could end life on Earth: Experiment demonstrates solar system's fragility, https://phys.org/news/2023-03-planet-life-earth-solar-fragility.html

What would happen if the solar system gained a super-Earth?, https://phys.org/news/2023-02-solar-gained-super-earth.html

ref - The Dynamical Consequences of a Super-Earth in the Solar System, https://arxiv.org/abs/2302.06641, 22-Feb-2023.

My observation. While the simulation uses 10^7 year timescale, the introduction of a super-earth to our solar system could create very chaotic conditions for our habitable earth and life on it. Good we do not have a super-earth or super-earths orbiting in our solar system. Using 3 earth mass super-earth, a=3.0 au, e=0, P=5.1965E+00 years. In 1 Gyr this super earth could complete 1.9244E+08 revolutions around the Sun. The simulation shows instabilities and chaotic conditions develop within 10^7 year time scales for various simulated conditions using super earths of different masses. Applying a 5 year orbital period, about 2 million revolutions take place and problems show up for our solar system, and inner terrestrial planets.

Other planetary configurations documented today would likely raise serious problems for Earth too.

Two exoplanets orbiting a sun-like star discovered, https://phys.org/news/2023-03-exoplanets-orbiting-sun-like-star.html

ref - A Jupiter analogue and a cold Super-Neptune orbiting the solar-twin star HIP 104045, https://arxiv.org/abs/2303.01358, 02-March-2023.

My observation. The exoplanet.eu site shows both b and c here and 1.03 Msun host star. Applying the MMSN, 3.429310E+03 earth masses for total dust and gas protoplanetary disc. The super-Neptune exoplanet is about 0.92 au from the star and 0.5 Mjup exoplanet at 3.46 au. The configuration of these large exoplanets found orbiting a solar type of star contrast sharply with the planetary configuration in our solar system where we have a very habitable earth orbiting the Sun today.

 

[billslugg]

As I understand it, the presence of Jupiter is insufficient to disrupt the Earth's orbit. A super Earth in the vicinity of the asteroid belt would be sufficient to disrupt Earth but the tidal effects of Jupiter prevented such a planet from forming.

 

[rod]

As I understand it, the presence of Jupiter is insufficient to disrupt the Earth's orbit. A super Earth in the vicinity of the asteroid belt would be sufficient to disrupt Earth but the tidal effects of Jupiter prevented such a planet from forming.

Do you have a reference for this? As I read the reference paper on this super-earth simulation, Jupiter and Saturn could have some issues too.

 

[billslugg]

No reference, I have no idea where it came from. And yes, with a super Earth in the mix, even the big planets would be at risk.