Passing stars may throw Earth out of the Solar System, study finds

Passing Stars Could One Day Push Earth Out of Orbit (Image: Canva)

It’s not just time or the Sun we should fear. A quiet danger may be drifting through space, and one day, it could send Earth spinning into chaos. That’s the warning from a new study that suggests passing stars may pose a larger threat than previously believed.

Published in the journal Icarus, the study relies on thousands of detailed simulations. It claims that our solar system could be more unstable than we ever thought. A passing field star, one with mass like our Sun, could cause serious disturbance if it comes close enough.

Distant Stars May Disturb Planetary Orbits
A field star drifting within 10,000 astronomical units may be enough. This could rattle the Oort Cloud, the icy shell at the solar system’s edge. The gravitational effects may ripple inwards, shaking up planetary orbits, including Earth's.

Astronomers Nathan Kaib and Sean Raymond led the new research. They found the chances of disruption are higher than earlier models suggested. Over four billion years, passing stars are seen as the most likely trigger for instability.

Their simulations show that Mercury’s orbit could become more vulnerable. The chance of orbital chaos for Mercury may rise by 50 to 80%. Mars also faces a 0.3% risk of being lost through collision or ejection.

Earth’s Fate Could Be Darker Than Predicted
The study reveals a chilling possibility for our planet. There is a 0.2% chance that Earth might collide with another planet. Or worse—it could be thrown into the Sun or flung into deep space.

If Mercury's orbit is thrown off, it could start a chain. Venus or Mars might crash into Earth or hurl it towards Jupiter. Once pulled by Jupiter’s gravity, Earth could be tossed out of the solar system forever.

Even distant Pluto is not safe, facing a 5% chance of chaos. The researchers also said current models may be underestimating the risks. Giant planets might undergo more drastic long-term changes than earlier thought.

Our Sun’s expansion is still five billion years away. But before it grows into a red giant, another silent force could act. A slow-moving star, passing unseen, might be the true agent of Earth’s undoing.