How can a solar system be destroyed?

Question

Owen Atkinson · Accepted Answer

A solar system consists of one or more planets orbiting a star, it can be destroyed by all of the planets being broken up, ejected, pulled away or consumed.

All of the planets that orbit the star must be destroyed or eliminated for a solar system to be destroyed. A star's "death" does not always signal the end of a solar system because planets can usually continue to orbit around the star because the star remnant is typically still massive enough. Gravitational tidal forces have the power to shatter planets if they approach a star too closely. If a planet's orbit enters a hyperbolic state due to proximity to a star, another planet, or another star, the planet may be expelled from the solar system. By using its gravitational pull, a passing star can also "steal" a planet. Black holes have the ability to devour planets or even the star itself.

Levi Acosta · Answer

undefined A solar system can be destroyed through various catastrophic events such as a nearby supernova explosion, collision with another celestial object like a rogue planet or black hole, or gravitational disruptions caused by passing stars or galactic interactions.