If a super-Earth existed in the Solar System, here's what would happen to our planet.

The solar system is a balanced system maintained by a nearly perfect equilibrium of gravity and inertia. What if instead of the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, there was a super-Earth? This question was posed by the authors of a study published in the journal Icarus, which yielded unexpected answers, as reported by ScienceAlert.

Many star systems in our galaxy, similar to the solar system, are predicted to have a super-Earth class planet located close to their native star. However, there is no planet in our solar system that is approximately 1.5 to 2 times, or even 10 times, the size of Earth. Yet, such rocky planets are considered quite common in our galaxy.

Scientists created simulations to determine how such a super-Earth, if it existed in the solar system between Mars and Jupiter, could affect Venus, Earth, and Mars. The simulations accounted for various sizes of the planet, ranging from 2 to 10 times larger than Earth. During the simulations, researchers examined the impact of an additional planet on the orbits and axial tilts of the inner planets of the solar system.

The shape and length of an orbit, as well as the tilt of a planet's axis, are crucial for its habitability. The shape and size of the orbit influence the duration of seasons, while the axial tilt affects how extreme the temperatures will be during those seasons. The results of the simulations revealed surprising outcomes.

On one hand, a planet twice the size of Earth would not have a significant impact on Earth, Venus, and Mars due to its gravity. Although the simulation indicated that Earth's axis could shift, resulting in hotter summers and colder winters, it would still be a habitable Earth.

However, an additional planet ten times larger than Earth would alter the orbits of the inner planets of the solar system. For instance, Earth's orbit would become more elongated, bringing it closer to Venus. The axial tilt of Earth would also increase.

In this scenario, Earth would experience drastic seasonal changes, ranging from extremely hot summers to very cold winters. Even if early life could adapt to such extreme conditions, it remains uncertain whether humans would have emerged on Earth.

According to scientists, if a star system similar to our solar system is discovered with a super-Earth, it would provide insights into whether the inner planets in that system could be habitable.