Calculate Interstellar Rock Orbit in Solar System

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In summary: But predicting an orbit around a galaxy is like trying to predict the path of a particle in a gas - it's impossible without knowing a lot more than just the positions and velocities of the particles.
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Rohith8193
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Is it possible to calculate the entire orbit of an interstellar piece of rock that has entered our solar system from observing the parameters and trajectory of that rock exhibits while inside our solar system?
 
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  • #2
I think you may need to define "entire orbit" and "interstellar piece of rock" a bit better.

For the most part yes, we'd make optical observations over time and calculate, to the best of our abilities, it's orbit.
 
  • #3
Well the interstellar piece of rock is an asteroid that's been traveling in our galaxy. The scenario is this:
The rock has entered our solar system and we began our observations on it from the moment it entered the Oort Cloud. from that time to the time it leaves the Oort cloud we were able to get a lot of data on it(data pertaining to its velocity, etc etc). From this will we be able to calculate its entire orbit as it travels through the galaxy?
What i mean is which all star systems is it likely to go through and all?
I'm working on a sci fi short story and this has been bugging me because the galaxy is riddled with massive objects and all of them will interact with the rock, so will it have a steady orbit?
 
  • #4
Rohith8193 said:
Well the interstellar piece of rock is an asteroid that's been traveling in our galaxy. The scenario is this:
The rock has entered our solar system and we began our observations on it from the moment it entered the Oort Cloud. from that time to the time it leaves the Oort cloud we were able to get a lot of data on it(data pertaining to its velocity, etc etc). From this will we be able to calculate its entire orbit as it travels through the galaxy?
What i mean is which all star systems is it likely to go through and all?
I'm working on a sci fi short story and this has been bugging me because the galaxy is riddled with massive objects and all of them will interact with the rock, so will it have a steady orbit?

Would we be able to get a rough guesstimate, yes. It's likely that such an object would end captured by our solar systems gravitational well.
 
  • #5
Calculating the entire orbit around the galaxy is probably not reasonable. We're talking about 200 million years of interactions with billions of large objects. At best you'd get a rough estimate with no real way to know the details.

Student100 said:
Would we be able to get a rough guesstimate, yes. It's likely that such an object would end captured by our solar systems gravitational well.

It's unlikely to be captured by our solar system without some multi-body interactions that are pretty rare. It would most likely drift right by with only a change in direction.
 
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  • #6
Consider this: it's possible to calculate every further and past position of a gravitationally interacting two-body system. Once you add the third body, the equations become impossible to solve, apart from certain restricted cases. All you can ever do then is make approximations.
 
  • #7
The only object of consequence, gravitationally speaking, is the sun.
 
  • #8
So there is no way of getting a defined orbit from just the data we obtain from the rock traveling through our solar system.
But if we had a an accurate Galactic map would we be able to predict the orbit taking into consideration all the bodies that could affect it?
Thanks for the replies till now :)
 
  • #9
Rohith8193 said:
So there is no way of getting a defined orbit from just the data we obtain from the rock traveling through our solar system.
But if we had a an accurate Galactic map would we be able to predict the orbit taking into consideration all the bodies that could affect it?
Thanks for the replies till now :)

We don't even know the orbits of the outer planets without error. We could certainly learn a few things about the rock, where it came from, where it's going, a rough orbit (if it's orbiting anything and hasn't reached galactic escape velocities). There's actually been studies done looking for interstellar meteoroids in our solar system, six possible canadites were found with a confidence of σ3. No smoking gun to date that I'm aware of. The event must be extremely rare on human time scales.
 
  • #10
With three accurate positions of anything in 3space+time, one can calculate an orbit. If there is only one other body, then Newtonian mechanics will do - you can compute the equation that will place it precisely at any time forwards or backwards. If there are more than two bodies involved, then you can still do an numerical, iterative solution using the theory of perturbations.
 

1. How do you calculate the orbit of an interstellar rock in our solar system?

To calculate the orbit of an interstellar rock in our solar system, we use the laws of gravity and motion, specifically Kepler's laws. These laws describe the relationship between the mass of an object, its distance from the sun, and its orbital period. By plugging in the known values for the interstellar rock and our sun, we can calculate its orbit.

2. What information do you need to calculate the orbit of an interstellar rock?

To calculate the orbit of an interstellar rock, we need to know its mass, velocity, and trajectory. We also need to know the mass and distance of our sun. These values can be obtained through observations and measurements.

3. Can the orbit of an interstellar rock in our solar system change over time?

Yes, the orbit of an interstellar rock in our solar system can change over time due to various factors such as gravitational interactions with other objects, collisions, and the effects of solar radiation. However, these changes are usually small and can be predicted using mathematical models.

4. How does the orbit of an interstellar rock differ from the orbit of a planet?

The orbit of an interstellar rock differs from the orbit of a planet in several ways. Interstellar rocks generally have more eccentric orbits, meaning they are more elongated and have a higher inclination (angle) compared to planets. They also have much longer orbital periods and may not follow the same plane as the planets in our solar system.

5. Why is it important to calculate the orbit of an interstellar rock in our solar system?

Calculating the orbit of an interstellar rock in our solar system is important for several reasons. Firstly, it helps us better understand the origins and evolution of our solar system. Additionally, it can help us predict potential collisions with other objects and inform our plans for future space missions. It also allows us to study the properties and behavior of interstellar objects, which can provide valuable insights into the larger universe.

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