Planetary scientists have explored a hypothetical scenario in which a super-Earth existed within our solar system, located between the orbits of . Mars planet And JupiterAccording to recent simulations by planetary scientists Emily Simpson and Howard Chen of the Florida Institute of Technology, such planetary configurations could significantly destabilize the climates and orbits of neighboring planets, including Earth.
Gravitational instability and climate disruption
According to Space.com, the findings reporthighlight that super-Earths, which are commonly observed in exoplanetary systems, are notably absent from our Solar System. These planets, larger than Earth but smaller than Neptune, are frequently found in the Milky Way. Researchers simulated different iterations of a super-Earth within our solar system to assess its gravitational effects on the inner rocky planets like Earth, Venus and Mars.
The study is said to have shown that the presence of a super-Earth, especially one with a mass 10 to 20 times that of Earth, would have caused significant disruptions. The gravitational pull of such a planet could push small rocky planets into eccentric orbits or bend their trajectories, Chen said in his interview with Space.com. These unstable orbits would lead to extreme climatic conditions, including irregular transitions between ice ages and periods of intense warming.
Chen told the publication that although the configuration we see in our solar system is unusual, the presence of a super-Earth in this region could make Earth’s orbit extremely unstable, jeopardizing its habitability.
Implications for life in exoplanetary systems
The findings suggest that planets located in the habitable zones of other star systems may also face significant challenges to sustaining life if they share theirs. Area With giant super-Earths. Instability introduced by such neighbors may hinder evolutionary processes that require relative climate stability.
While the slightly larger planet Mars might lead to drastic seasonal changes on Earth, conditions for life could still persist. However, the researchers emphasized that the absence of super-Earths near Mars and Jupiter may be important in enabling Earth’s current hospitable climate.