Large-scale chaos in the solar system.

Numerous integrations of the solar system have been conducted, with very close initial conditions, totaling an integration time exceeding 100 Gyr. The motion of the large planets is always very regular. The chaotic zone explored by Venus and the Earth is moderate in size. The chaotic zone accessible to Mars is large and can lead to eccentricities greater than 0.2. The chaotic diffusion of Mercury is so large that its eccentricity can potentially reach values very close to 1, and ejection of this planet out of the solar system resulting from close encounter with Venus is possible in less than 3.5 Gyr.