Beyond the Sphere of Influence: A New Criterion for Planetary Gravity

This new study shatters the limitations that have been imposed on the reach of planets' gravity by the sphere of influence since 1805. A new criterion has been proposed through a new approach.

The planet's sphere of influence (SOI) has been widely employed to determine the reach of planetary gravity in space since 1850.  This new study shatters the conventional boundary of planetary gravitational influence and shows that beyond the SOI, the planet's gravity can still seriously affect objects' motion.

https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-024-05915-1