Scientists Say Jupiter May Have Pushed Another Planet Out Of Our Solar System
- 9 years ago
A fifth giant planet was likely part of our solar system until it got a little too close to Jupiter, scientists say.
There likely used to be a fifth gaseous planet in our solar system; and Jupiter is probably responsible for kicking it to the cosmic curb, according to a new study published in The Astrophysical Journal.
The existence and ultimate ejection of that fifth planet has been theorized for years—with Jupiter or Saturn considered the likely culprits.
The process of planetary ejection is thought to occur when two planets get so close to each other that one planet begins to accelerate fast enough and breaks free of the sun's immense gravitational pull.
There likely used to be a fifth gaseous planet in our solar system; and Jupiter is probably responsible for kicking it to the cosmic curb, according to a new study published in The Astrophysical Journal.
The existence and ultimate ejection of that fifth planet has been theorized for years—with Jupiter or Saturn considered the likely culprits.
The process of planetary ejection is thought to occur when two planets get so close to each other that one planet begins to accelerate fast enough and breaks free of the sun's immense gravitational pull.