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Was wondering if we could be hit by Mercury if the Sun disappeared.
I'm assuming as soon as the Sun's gravity is removed Mercury continues at its orbital velocity in whichever direction its moving then?
There are 5 light-minutes between Earth and Mercury, and Mercury average orbital velocity is about 47km/s, 2820km per minute.
So Mercury travels about 14000 km before the Earth starts moving at a tangent. Average distance between Mercury and Earth is 77 Million km.
I think we'll be all right, but I can't promise anything.
N.
I'm assuming as soon as the Sun's gravity is removed Mercury continues at its orbital velocity in whichever direction its moving then?
There are 5 light-minutes between Earth and Mercury, and Mercury average orbital velocity is about 47km/s, 2820km per minute.
So Mercury travels about 14000 km before the Earth starts moving at a tangent. Average distance between Mercury and Earth is 77 Million km.
I think we'll be all right, but I can't promise anything.
N.