Distribution of semi-major axes of planets retained by the Sun after a NS encounter. Each data point represents the mean value of the semi-major axis of a specific planet (Mercury ☿ to Neptune ♆) if it was retained by the Sun. The data were compiled from all pre-evolved states of the SS for a given set of initial conditions (impact parameter, b_NS, encounter velocity, v_NS, and the incidence angle, θ_NS) – i.e. the panels do not show how many planets were retained in total (see Fig. C.2). The former SS is shown for reference.