GETTING KICKED OUT

1 Jumping Jupiter

This is the Jumping-Jupiter scenario. This may have ejected a planet from our Solar System long ago.

2 Meeting of worlds

Gravitational interactions between the gas giant and the extra planet cause its orbit to become elongated.

3 Catapulted out

The extra planet’s orbit is so stretched out that it’s thrown out of the system by an encounter with its star.

4 Moving in

The ejecting planet migrates inwards, settling into an orbit closer to the star.