A new model of the early solar system solves the cause of an instability that threw the gas giants into their modern-day orbits. - by AndyTomaswick
In the early solar system, the gas giants sat in a dusty cloud around the nascent sun in nearly circular orbits. When the sun ignited, it began to blow the dust in the circumstellar disc away. Some of that dust happened to blow past the orbit or the gas giants, causing the instability that the Nice model sees.
However, how the researchers fleshed out the idea also solves some problems the Nice model had. One major one was data, such as that collected from moon samples, pointed to a much quicker path to this instability that was typically found in the original Nice model. With this updated “inside-out” dust cloud evaporation model, that instability’s laborious path of hundreds of millions of years is condensed down to a timeline of a few million years, which matches much better with the existing data.
That’s not the only data it matches well with, however. The Nice model itself is partially controversial for pointing to a potential ninth planet in the early solar system – and it doesn’t mean Pluto. A favorite of many a conspiratorial skywatcher, Planet 9 has been garnering more and more attention after a Caltech study in 2015 found there might be something huge lurking around 50 billion miles away from the Sun.
Author Sean Raymond of the University of Bordeaux demonstrates how dispersion can have a massive effect on the surrounding material.The original Nice model actually works better with five gas giant inner planets, but in those calculations, one of those planets is ejected out into interstellar space to become a rogue planet. In the updated model, the outcome of the planetary orbital alignment is essentially the same whether there are four or five starting gas giants in the system.
As with much theory, this new model could potentially impact our understanding of the formation of the early solar system and could resolve a long-standing argument over what the original trigger of the instability that so shaped our planetary neighbors was. But ultimately, even this new model will have to hold up to the data, and that is plenty more to collect before the true story of our early solar system is clear.
Norge Siste Nytt, Norge Overskrifter
Similar News:Du kan også lese nyheter som ligner på denne som vi har samlet inn fra andre nyhetskilder.
Doja Cat's Surreal Gown Won the Billboard Music Awards Red CarpetThe rapper fittingly wore a bag shaped like Saturn when she took home the Top R&B Artist and Top R&B Female Artist awards for her album 'Planet Her.'
Les mer »
Using impact craters to date geological events on Mars | Digital TrendsObserving Mars from orbit can help us understand the history of the planet, as recent MarsExpress images of an impact crater show.
Les mer »
Jersey Shore man dies after he’s found shot in carMarques Mills, of Neptune, was found by police shortly before 11 p.m. Saturday, authorities said.
Les mer »
A’s have no answer for Ohtani, lineup lacks punch in loss to AngelsThe A’s entered the day with a .201 average, the worst in the majors.
Les mer »
The science of becoming 'interplanetary': How can humans live on Saturn's moons?With the right kind of hard work and grit, humanity could settle on Saturn's largest moons someday.
Les mer »
TSA lines are out the door again at Austin's airportThe lines for security screenings spilled out onto the sidewalk Saturday morning at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. The wait was so long that some people who showed up well in advance missed their flights. | KUTnathan
Les mer »