Planetary migration refers to the process by which planets change their orbits over time due to gravitational interactions with other celestial bodies or through interactions with the protoplanetary disk from which they formed. This phenomenon can occur in various ways, including type I and type II migration, which involve the gravitational effects of a planet on the surrounding gas and dust.
During type I migration, a smaller planet moves through a gas disk, causing it to gain or lose angular momentum, leading to a change in its orbit. Type II migration involves larger planets interacting with the disk in such a way that they can significantly shift their orbits, often as the disk dissipates over time.
Planetary migration is a critical concept in astrophysics and planetary formation theories, helping to explain the distribution and characteristics of planets observed in various solar systems, including our own. It plays a significant role in the evolution of planetary systems, impacting their architecture and the potential for habitability.
New research has unveiled groundbreaking findings about the timing of a pivotal event in our Solar System's history – the migration of the giant planets to their current positions. Previous…