<p>Short answer: the solar system would be less stable in the short run due to the massive gravitational influence of Jupiter vanishing.</p>

<p>Long answer: The current layout of the solar system is actually remarkably well balanced; without outside interference, it'll stay stable for a good long while. Anything that changes the current equilibrium will force the system to adjust until it finds a new equilibrium. Removing a huge mass will certainly affect this in <em>some</em> way, but it's difficult to say exactly how without running a few hundred simulations. Jupiter's gravitational influence kept the asteroid belt from coalescing into a planet, so that might happen, for one. </p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-13T01:33:30.053Z
2014-05-13T01:33:30.053Z
IronWaffleMan
<p>This question isn't really very clear or practical. You need to add quite a bit of information, eg which planet? </p>

<ul>
<li>If Sedna vanished, it would be detectable by instruments, but we would not notice. </li>
<li>Jupiter or Mars might make a bigger difference. We could spot it straight away by the naked eye. </li>
</ul>

<p>Of course Earth life would be fine at first (unless it was Earth that was removed ...) but the orbits of asteroids and other bodies may be perturbed, which could lead to an influx of asteroid strikes - potentially - in the longer term.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2014-05-12T22:28:04.873Z
2014-05-12T22:28:04.873Z
Rory Alsop
<p>More exactly what would to happen to us/Earth in general if any of the gas giants is removed by magic from the solar system ?</p>

<p>How long would it take after such change before we notice it ?</p>

<p>How major and would life resist to it ?</p>

<p><strong>EDIT</strong></p>

<p>For instance if Saturn or Jupiter is removed, what would happen ?</p>

<solar-system><planet>
What would happen if a planet is removed from the solar system?
aybe
# What would happen if a planet is removed from the solar system?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2014-05-12)

More exactly what would to happen to us/Earth in general if any of the gas giants is removed by magic from the solar system ?

How long would it take after such change before we notice it ?

How major and would life resist to it ?

**EDIT**

For instance if Saturn or Jupiter is removed, what would happen ?

**Tags:** solar-system, planet

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2014-05-12. Score: 6 | Accepted answer

This question isn't really very clear or practical. You need to add quite a bit of information, eg which planet?

* If Sedna vanished, it would be detectable by instruments, but we would not notice.
* Jupiter or Mars might make a bigger difference. We could spot it straight away by the naked eye.

Of course Earth life would be fine at first (unless it was Earth that was removed ...) but the orbits of asteroids and other bodies may be perturbed, which could lead to an influx of asteroid strikes - potentially - in the longer term.


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### Answer by username_1 on 2014-05-13. Score: 3

Short answer: the solar system would be less stable in the short run due to the massive gravitational influence of Jupiter vanishing.

Long answer: The current layout of the solar system is actually remarkably well balanced; without outside interference, it'll stay stable for a good long while. Anything that changes the current equilibrium will force the system to adjust until it finds a new equilibrium. Removing a huge mass will certainly affect this in *some* way, but it's difficult to say exactly how without running a few hundred simulations. Jupiter's gravitational influence kept the asteroid belt from coalescing into a planet, so that might happen, for one.


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