Interstellar Object May Have Shaped Planetary Orbits in Early Solar System

A new study suggests a massive object passing through the Solar System influenced the eccentricities and inclinations of gas giant planets.

A study proposes that an interstellar object 2 to 50 times the mass of Jupiter passed through the early Solar System, altering planetary orbits.
Simulations indicate this object's flyby could explain the eccentricities and inclinations of gas giants like Jupiter, Saturn, and Neptune better than existing theories.
The object likely passed within 20 astronomical units of the Sun at a velocity of less than 6 km per second.
Researchers estimate a 1 in 100 chance of such an event occurring, making it a plausible explanation for the observed orbital patterns.
The study calls for further exploration of how such encounters might have impacted terrestrial planets, including Earth and Mars.