A new research note published in Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy has shed light on the possibility of rogue planets joining our Solar System. The study, led by Edward Belbruno from Yeshiva University and James Green from Space Science Endeavours, explores the concept of permanent capture into the Solar System.
According to the researchers, phase space is a mathematical representation that describes the state of a dynamical system like our Solar System. Phase space uses coordinates that represent both position and momentum, allowing scientists to track the possible orbital configurations around the Sun. The study focuses on the theoretical nature of phase space and ISO capture, studying “the dynamical and topological properties of a special type of permanent capture, called permanent weak capture which occurs for infinite time.”
The researchers developed a capture cross-section for the Solar System’s phase space and calculated how many rogue planets are in our Solar System’s vicinity. They identified openings in the Sun’s Hill sphere, a region where the Sun’s gravity is the dominant gravitational force for capturing satellites, that could allow some objects to reach permanent weak capture.
If an object enters one of these openings, it would move chaotically within the Hill’s sphere before being captured permanently by the Sun. The study suggests that rogue planets could perturb the orbits of planets that may be possible to detect and even alter the course of life on Earth, although this is considered highly improbable.
The Vera Rubin Observatory, set to launch in the near future, may provide new insights into the population of ISOs and rogue planets. The researchers’ findings highlight the need for further research into these enigmatic objects, which are likely to be present in large numbers in interstellar space.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-reveal-how-our-solar-system-could-capture-a-new-planet