Ancient Stellar Flyby Reshaped Outer Solar System's Orbits
New research indicates a close encounter with another star billions of years ago disrupted the orbits of distant solar system objects.
- A stellar flyby billions of years ago may have altered the orbits of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) in the outer Solar System.
- The flyby hypothesis suggests a star passed within 110 astronomical units of the Sun, affecting TNOs' eccentric and inclined orbits.
- Simulations show that this stellar encounter could explain the irregular, elongated orbits of some of the moons around giant planets.
- Researchers posit that such stellar flybys are relatively common, influencing the structure of many solar systems in the Milky Way.
- Additional evidence could be gathered with future observations from the Vera Rubin Observatory.