Astronomers are exploring the possibility of our Solar System capturing a rogue planet, a free-floating planet that wanders through space without a star.
This idea, once considered highly unlikely, is gaining attention due to new research into the dynamics of space and how objects move through it. While rogue planets are known to exist, scientists now believe it could be possible for one to be captured by our Sun's gravitational pull.
Study Reveals How Rogue Planets Could Be Captured by the Sun's Gravity
The concept became more plausible after studying two interstellar objects (ISOs) that passed through our Solar System in recent years. The first, 'Oumuamua, was discovered in 2017, followed by Comet 2I/Borisov in 2019.
These objects, which came from outside our Solar System, provided valuable data about how ISOs behave. Though both objects were small, their visits sparked discussions about the potential for larger, more massive objects — like rogue planets — to enter and remain in our Solar System.
A new study published in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy delves into the mechanics behind capturing rogue planets. The researchers, Edward Belbruno and James Green, describe a phenomenon called "permanent weak capture," ScienceAlert said.
This happens when an object is drawn into the Sun's gravity but remains on a chaotic orbit for a long period before settling into a stable, long-term orbit. These objects would never collide with the Sun, but their presence would disrupt the orbits of the planets, possibly altering the Solar System's layout.
The study of "phase space," a mathematical model that tracks the positions and movements of objects, plays a crucial role in understanding how such a capture could occur. According to the research, certain regions within our Solar System are capable of trapping objects, including rogue planets, through gravitational interactions.
These "capture points" are located in areas where the Sun's gravity dominates, such as certain parts of the Sun's Hill sphere, an area of space where the Sun has strong gravitational influence.
Could Rogue Planets Join Our Solar System?
Rogue planets are thought to form in similar ways to regular planets but can be ejected from their original solar systems due to gravitational interactions with other stars or planets.
These rogue planets can wander through interstellar space, potentially coming close enough to the Solar System to be captured.
According to IFLScience, Astronomers suggest that the Solar System may have already captured smaller objects, like interstellar comets, and that rogue planets could follow suit.
In fact, researchers have estimated that there may be hundreds of rogue planets in our solar neighborhood alone. Stars in our vicinity, including those within a radius of six parsecs, are likely to host planets, some of which may have been ejected into space.
These rogue planets could eventually come within the range of our Sun's gravity, and if they pass through the right areas of space, they might be captured.
While the chance of a rogue planet joining our Solar System is still very low, it's not out of the question. Over time, subtle changes in the orbits of objects, including ISOs and rogue planets, could lead to their permanent capture.
Though such a scenario would be rare, it's possible that, in the distant future, a rogue planet could become a new member of our Solar System. This research has opened new possibilities for understanding the dynamics of our cosmic neighborhood and the potential for new, unexpected discoveries.
