internationally renowned physics bro suggests hyperbolic trajectories

warpgate/Exoplanet.tsx

@@ -97,11 +97,13 @@ const Exoplanet: React.FC<ExoplanetProps> = ({ onRemove }) => {
       // Proximity detection to the Sun 
       const distanceToSun = meshRef.current.position.length();
 
-      // Check for collision with sun
+      // Check for collision with sun FIRST, before any gravity calculations
       if (distanceToSun < MIN_DISTANCE && isVisible) {
         setCollisionPoint(meshRef.current.position.clone());
         setShowExplosion(true);
         setIsVisible(false);
+        // Immediately stop all motion
+        velocityRef.current.set(0, 0, 0);
         setTimeout(() => {
           onRemove();
         }, 3000);
@@ -110,18 +112,30 @@ const Exoplanet: React.FC<ExoplanetProps> = ({ onRemove }) => {
 
       // Apply continuous gravitational force when within threshold
       if (distanceToSun < HYPERBOLIC_THRESHOLD) {
-        // Enhanced gravity when very close to sun
+        // Add a minimum distance clamp to prevent extreme gravity values
+        const clampedDistance = Math.max(distanceToSun, CLOSE_APPROACH_THRESHOLD * 0.5);
+
         let gravityStrength = BASE_GRAVITY_STRENGTH;
         if (distanceToSun < CLOSE_APPROACH_THRESHOLD) {
-          // Exponentially increase gravity strength for close approaches
-          gravityStrength *= (CLOSE_APPROACH_THRESHOLD / distanceToSun) ** 1.5;
+          // Limit the maximum gravity multiplier
+          const gravityMultiplier = Math.min(
+            (CLOSE_APPROACH_THRESHOLD / clampedDistance) ** 1.5,
+            4.0 // Maximum multiplier cap
+          );
+          gravityStrength *= gravityMultiplier;
         }
 
-        const gravityMultiplier = gravityStrength / (distanceToSun * distanceToSun);
+        const gravityMultiplier = gravityStrength / (clampedDistance * clampedDistance);
         const gravity = meshRef.current.position.clone()
           .normalize()
           .multiplyScalar(-gravityMultiplier);
 
+        // Limit the maximum gravity force
+        const maxGravityMagnitude = 0.5;
+        if (gravity.length() > maxGravityMagnitude) {
+          gravity.normalize().multiplyScalar(maxGravityMagnitude);
+        }
+
         velocityRef.current.add(gravity);
       }
     }