Simulation of Saturn passing by Earth on a collision course to the Sun

This is absolutely fascinating!

The always cool Yeti Dynamics has released another brilliant scientific simulation: What would Earth's sky look like if Saturn went off its orbit to race into the inner solar system on its way to the Sun and our planet was on its path? I just love these impossible but visually arresting scenarios.

Of course, aside from the awesome view and the meteor fireworks, many other things would happen. Saturn's tidal forces, for example, would wreak havoc on Earth. Not to talk about its gravity sending us on a completely different—and deadly—orbit. But, visually, this is what we would see. And what a way to go that would be.

It would be horrifying but absolutely stunning if we were able to survive an event like this.

a reply to: CeeRZ

Wow!! I am glad this is never going to happen, as it would definitely mean the end of us, but what a view.......to see such a gorgeous giant fly by......just wow!

I love these type of 'what if' videos, they don't show a real scenario but one that is a treat to they eyes.

Thanks for sharing!!

Wow that was amazing! thanks for posting! It would most definitely be the end of us, but what a way to go.

That was frightening and cool, nice find!

The cat at the end is pretty random though

Here is another cool simulator to play with, try the rogue star. This runs in java so in most cases you probably have to allow this site to run in your java settings. If you have java.

[Janus Astro

I'd like to see an animation (or movie?) of the sky as we slowly float out of orbit into space.
Make the sound effects and cgi harrowing, like you take dat shid home wid you.

That's next level shiz

I wonder if you would literally feel lighter on your feet as the passing Saturn's huge gravity pulls on us. There would also be mega tides flooding everything.

originally posted by: OpenEars123
I'd like to see an animation (or movie?) of the sky as we slowly float out of orbit into space.

The sky would look pretty much the same, unless the Earth passes relatively close to one of the planets. The Sun will gradually become smaller and smaller, but the stars will remain where they are.

I've been witness to some frightening things in the heavens (hurricane, etc) but this would by far blow everything out of the water (literally lol).

Phil Plait's article, theorising on the effects of gravity on both planets: www.slate.com...

a reply to: CeeRZ

Isn't Saturn supposed to spiral down (not free fall in a linear trajectory) towards the Sun as it drops from orbital velocity but still retain its inertia?

The "simulation" is a nice doom porn, but poor on true scenario simulation.

What causes Saturn's to free fall in the first place? Why doesn't the Earth free fall too? Why doesn't Saturn's acceleration towards the Sun (or its tidal force as it passes near another planet) disintegrate its rings?

a reply to: swanne

I'm pretty sure none of that matters for the point of the video. It was to show what it could look like for us (if we could even survive an event even remotely close to it)

the video is a little bit off, Saturn will lose its rings and moons as it passes by another gravity well

I predict someone will edit and re-dub this video and claim it is "secret NASA video of Planet X- Nibiru 100% PROOF!" any day now.