Analysis of Close Stellar Encounters with the Solar System

TL;DR

This study analyzes 36 stars that may have closely approached the Solar System within 1 parsec, using multiple methods to estimate encounter parameters and identifying Gaia DR2 3130033734235815424 as a notable example.

Contribution

It compares three methods for calculating stellar encounter parameters and provides the first estimates for Gaia DR2 3130033734235815424 using orbit integration.

Findings

Epicyclic method effective within ±1 Myr

First estimate of encounter parameters for Gaia DR2 3130033734235815424

Orbit integration aligns with linear method results

Abstract

We consider 36 candidates for close (within 1 pc) encounters with the Solar system. These stars have been selected in accordance with the results of an analysis of their motion obtained by various authors. For most stars from this list the kinematic characteristics have been taken from the Gaia DR2 catalogue. The parameters of the encounters of these stars with the Solar system have been calculated using three methods: (1) the linear one, (2) the epicyclic one, and (3) by integrating the orbits in an axisymmetric potential. We have concluded that the epicyclic method works quite well only on a time interval no longer than $\pm$1 Myr. Based on the third method, in good agreement with the first method, for the first time we have obtained the following estimates of the encounter parameters for the star Gaia DR2 3130033734235815424: $t_{min}=-0.62\pm0.12$ Myr and $d_{min}=0.30\pm0.10$ pc.