Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge

[ScienceRocks]

Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge

This artist's conception illustrates a giant planet floating freely without a parent star. Astronomers recently uncovered evidence for such lone worlds, thought to have been booted from developing star systems. The sun may have captured such a planet, which new work shows may reside at the edge of the solar system.
CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A planet four times the size of Earth may be skirting the edges of the solar system beyond Pluto, according to new research. Too distant to be easily spotted by Earth-based telescopes, the unseen planet could be gravitationally tugging on small icy objects past Neptune, helping explain the mystery of those objects' peculiar orbits.

The claim comes from Rodney Gomes, a noted astronomer at the National Observatory of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Gomes presented his recently completed computer models suggesting the existence of the distant planet at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Timberline Lodge, Ore., earlier this month.

Astronomers who attended the talk find Gomes' arguments compelling, but they say much more evidence is needed before the hypothetical planet can be crowned as real.

For several years, astronomers have observed that a handful of the small icy bodies that lie in the so-called "scattered disc" beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune, including the dwarf planet Sedna, deviate from the paths around the sun that would be expected based on the gravitational pulls of all the known objects in the solar system.
Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge | LiveScience

 

[jmasterson]

We lost Pluto but may gain Plant X. A fair trade I'd say.

 

[CrusaderFrank]

We lost Pluto but may gain Plant X. A fair trade I'd say.

Dad had a shirt that said, "When I was your age, Pluto was a planet"

 

[CrusaderFrank]

Buffy's stellar encounter - Astronomy Magazine

 

[sealybobo]

Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge

This artist's conception illustrates a giant planet floating freely without a parent star. Astronomers recently uncovered evidence for such lone worlds, thought to have been booted from developing star systems. The sun may have captured such a planet, which new work shows may reside at the edge of the solar system.
CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A planet four times the size of Earth may be skirting the edges of the solar system beyond Pluto, according to new research. Too distant to be easily spotted by Earth-based telescopes, the unseen planet could be gravitationally tugging on small icy objects past Neptune, helping explain the mystery of those objects' peculiar orbits.

The claim comes from Rodney Gomes, a noted astronomer at the National Observatory of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Gomes presented his recently completed computer models suggesting the existence of the distant planet at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Timberline Lodge, Ore., earlier this month.

Astronomers who attended the talk find Gomes' arguments compelling, but they say much more evidence is needed before the hypothetical planet can be crowned as real.

For several years, astronomers have observed that a handful of the small icy bodies that lie in the so-called "scattered disc" beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune, including the dwarf planet Sedna, deviate from the paths around the sun that would be expected based on the gravitational pulls of all the known objects in the solar system.
Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge | LiveScience

Dwarf planet 'Goblin' discovery could prove mysterious Planet NINE exists

Scientists are officially calling the new object 2015 TG387, but it's been given the nickname 'Goblin', and could prove an even bigger planet is lurking in the distant reaches of our solar system.

The new dwarf planet was revealed in The Astronomical Journal, and sits an enormous 80 astronomical units from the Sun.

An astronomical unit is the distance between the Earth and Sun, which means the Goblin is 80 times farther from Earth than the Sun.


But due to its elongated orbit, it can move significantly further away – to a maximum distance of 2,300 AU.

"These so-called Inner Oort Cloud objects like 2015 TG387, 2012 VP113, and Sedna are isolated from most of the solar system's known mass

The Goblin was actually first spotted back in October 2015, at the Japanese Subaru 8-metre telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

Later observations between 2015 and 2018 allowed experts to work out the planet's orbit.

But there's a good chance we may never have found 2015 TG387, due to its wide-ranging orbit.

"We think there could be thousands of small boides like 2015 TG387 out on the solar system's fringes, but their distance makes finding them very difficult," said David Tholen, of the University of Hawaii.

"Currently we would only detect 2015 TG387 when it is near its closest approach to the Sun.

"For some 99% of its 40,000-year orbit, it would be too faint to see."

Importantly, by tracking the Goblin's orbit, scientists were able to find supporting evidence for planet nine, or 'Planet X' – a theoretical ninth planet in our solar system, far beyond Pluto.

Planet X is particularly exciting thanks to a popular conspiracy theory called the 'Nibiru Cataclysm' popularised in America that suggests the planet will eventually destroy Earth.

 

[BlackFlag]

Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge

This artist's conception illustrates a giant planet floating freely without a parent star. Astronomers recently uncovered evidence for such lone worlds, thought to have been booted from developing star systems. The sun may have captured such a planet, which new work shows may reside at the edge of the solar system.
CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A planet four times the size of Earth may be skirting the edges of the solar system beyond Pluto, according to new research. Too distant to be easily spotted by Earth-based telescopes, the unseen planet could be gravitationally tugging on small icy objects past Neptune, helping explain the mystery of those objects' peculiar orbits.

The claim comes from Rodney Gomes, a noted astronomer at the National Observatory of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Gomes presented his recently completed computer models suggesting the existence of the distant planet at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Timberline Lodge, Ore., earlier this month.

Astronomers who attended the talk find Gomes' arguments compelling, but they say much more evidence is needed before the hypothetical planet can be crowned as real.

For several years, astronomers have observed that a handful of the small icy bodies that lie in the so-called "scattered disc" beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune, including the dwarf planet Sedna, deviate from the paths around the sun that would be expected based on the gravitational pulls of all the known objects in the solar system.
Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge | LiveScience

Dwarf planet 'Goblin' discovery could prove mysterious Planet NINE exists

Scientists are officially calling the new object 2015 TG387, but it's been given the nickname 'Goblin', and could prove an even bigger planet is lurking in the distant reaches of our solar system.

The new dwarf planet was revealed in The Astronomical Journal, and sits an enormous 80 astronomical units from the Sun.

An astronomical unit is the distance between the Earth and Sun, which means the Goblin is 80 times farther from Earth than the Sun.


But due to its elongated orbit, it can move significantly further away – to a maximum distance of 2,300 AU.

"These so-called Inner Oort Cloud objects like 2015 TG387, 2012 VP113, and Sedna are isolated from most of the solar system's known mass

The Goblin was actually first spotted back in October 2015, at the Japanese Subaru 8-metre telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

Later observations between 2015 and 2018 allowed experts to work out the planet's orbit.

But there's a good chance we may never have found 2015 TG387, due to its wide-ranging orbit.

"We think there could be thousands of small boides like 2015 TG387 out on the solar system's fringes, but their distance makes finding them very difficult," said David Tholen, of the University of Hawaii.

"Currently we would only detect 2015 TG387 when it is near its closest approach to the Sun.

"For some 99% of its 40,000-year orbit, it would be too faint to see."

Importantly, by tracking the Goblin's orbit, scientists were able to find supporting evidence for planet nine, or 'Planet X' – a theoretical ninth planet in our solar system, far beyond Pluto.

Planet X is particularly exciting thanks to a popular conspiracy theory called the 'Nibiru Cataclysm' popularised in America that suggests the planet will eventually destroy Earth.

There’s so much space to cover in the enormous predicted orbit that this planet x has that we may never find it. On a Startalk podcast a scientist said the best chance of discovering it is programs where normal citizens sift through images because researchers don’t have the manpower. They singled out this program specifically: Planet Hunters

 

[sealybobo]

Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge

This artist's conception illustrates a giant planet floating freely without a parent star. Astronomers recently uncovered evidence for such lone worlds, thought to have been booted from developing star systems. The sun may have captured such a planet, which new work shows may reside at the edge of the solar system.
CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A planet four times the size of Earth may be skirting the edges of the solar system beyond Pluto, according to new research. Too distant to be easily spotted by Earth-based telescopes, the unseen planet could be gravitationally tugging on small icy objects past Neptune, helping explain the mystery of those objects' peculiar orbits.

The claim comes from Rodney Gomes, a noted astronomer at the National Observatory of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Gomes presented his recently completed computer models suggesting the existence of the distant planet at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Timberline Lodge, Ore., earlier this month.

Astronomers who attended the talk find Gomes' arguments compelling, but they say much more evidence is needed before the hypothetical planet can be crowned as real.

For several years, astronomers have observed that a handful of the small icy bodies that lie in the so-called "scattered disc" beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune, including the dwarf planet Sedna, deviate from the paths around the sun that would be expected based on the gravitational pulls of all the known objects in the solar system.
Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge | LiveScience

Dwarf planet 'Goblin' discovery could prove mysterious Planet NINE exists

Scientists are officially calling the new object 2015 TG387, but it's been given the nickname 'Goblin', and could prove an even bigger planet is lurking in the distant reaches of our solar system.

The new dwarf planet was revealed in The Astronomical Journal, and sits an enormous 80 astronomical units from the Sun.

An astronomical unit is the distance between the Earth and Sun, which means the Goblin is 80 times farther from Earth than the Sun.


But due to its elongated orbit, it can move significantly further away – to a maximum distance of 2,300 AU.

"These so-called Inner Oort Cloud objects like 2015 TG387, 2012 VP113, and Sedna are isolated from most of the solar system's known mass

The Goblin was actually first spotted back in October 2015, at the Japanese Subaru 8-metre telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

Later observations between 2015 and 2018 allowed experts to work out the planet's orbit.

But there's a good chance we may never have found 2015 TG387, due to its wide-ranging orbit.

"We think there could be thousands of small boides like 2015 TG387 out on the solar system's fringes, but their distance makes finding them very difficult," said David Tholen, of the University of Hawaii.

"Currently we would only detect 2015 TG387 when it is near its closest approach to the Sun.

"For some 99% of its 40,000-year orbit, it would be too faint to see."

Importantly, by tracking the Goblin's orbit, scientists were able to find supporting evidence for planet nine, or 'Planet X' – a theoretical ninth planet in our solar system, far beyond Pluto.

Planet X is particularly exciting thanks to a popular conspiracy theory called the 'Nibiru Cataclysm' popularised in America that suggests the planet will eventually destroy Earth.

There’s so much space to cover in the enormous predicted orbit that this planet x has that we may never find it. On a Startalk podcast a scientist said the best chance of discovering it is programs where normal citizens sift through images because researchers don’t have the manpower. They singled out this program specifically: Planet Hunters

I just saw a show on this planet. If it exists it exists so far out in our solar system where there is no light. They did a comparison on a soccer field. They used a beach ball as the sun and then put all the typical planets in their appropriate places and sizes. Earth was like a marble compared to sun. All the usual planets fell within the soccer field.

Then they drove 14 miles away and that’s where Planet X would be. And it was only twice or ten times the size of earth. Compared to the sun still small. Anyways, how are you going to ever see a little ball that small that far away and when it’s that dark?

We need to send probes out in 4 directions and find this thing.

How many thousands of years did they say it takes to circle the sun? Crazy

 

[sealybobo]

Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge

This artist's conception illustrates a giant planet floating freely without a parent star. Astronomers recently uncovered evidence for such lone worlds, thought to have been booted from developing star systems. The sun may have captured such a planet, which new work shows may reside at the edge of the solar system.
CREDIT: NASA/JPL-Caltech

A planet four times the size of Earth may be skirting the edges of the solar system beyond Pluto, according to new research. Too distant to be easily spotted by Earth-based telescopes, the unseen planet could be gravitationally tugging on small icy objects past Neptune, helping explain the mystery of those objects' peculiar orbits.

The claim comes from Rodney Gomes, a noted astronomer at the National Observatory of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro. Gomes presented his recently completed computer models suggesting the existence of the distant planet at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society in Timberline Lodge, Ore., earlier this month.

Astronomers who attended the talk find Gomes' arguments compelling, but they say much more evidence is needed before the hypothetical planet can be crowned as real.

For several years, astronomers have observed that a handful of the small icy bodies that lie in the so-called "scattered disc" beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune, including the dwarf planet Sedna, deviate from the paths around the sun that would be expected based on the gravitational pulls of all the known objects in the solar system.
Planet X? New Evidence of an Unseen Planet at Solar System's Edge | LiveScience

Dwarf planet 'Goblin' discovery could prove mysterious Planet NINE exists

Scientists are officially calling the new object 2015 TG387, but it's been given the nickname 'Goblin', and could prove an even bigger planet is lurking in the distant reaches of our solar system.

The new dwarf planet was revealed in The Astronomical Journal, and sits an enormous 80 astronomical units from the Sun.

An astronomical unit is the distance between the Earth and Sun, which means the Goblin is 80 times farther from Earth than the Sun.


But due to its elongated orbit, it can move significantly further away – to a maximum distance of 2,300 AU.

"These so-called Inner Oort Cloud objects like 2015 TG387, 2012 VP113, and Sedna are isolated from most of the solar system's known mass

The Goblin was actually first spotted back in October 2015, at the Japanese Subaru 8-metre telescope on Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

Later observations between 2015 and 2018 allowed experts to work out the planet's orbit.

But there's a good chance we may never have found 2015 TG387, due to its wide-ranging orbit.

"We think there could be thousands of small boides like 2015 TG387 out on the solar system's fringes, but their distance makes finding them very difficult," said David Tholen, of the University of Hawaii.

"Currently we would only detect 2015 TG387 when it is near its closest approach to the Sun.

"For some 99% of its 40,000-year orbit, it would be too faint to see."

Importantly, by tracking the Goblin's orbit, scientists were able to find supporting evidence for planet nine, or 'Planet X' – a theoretical ninth planet in our solar system, far beyond Pluto.

Planet X is particularly exciting thanks to a popular conspiracy theory called the 'Nibiru Cataclysm' popularised in America that suggests the planet will eventually destroy Earth.

There’s so much space to cover in the enormous predicted orbit that this planet x has that we may never find it. On a Startalk podcast a scientist said the best chance of discovering it is programs where normal citizens sift through images because researchers don’t have the manpower. They singled out this program specifically: Planet Hunters

I can’t believe that. Today I was watching a show about how humans won’t travel into space one day but our artificial intelligence robots will. They will be self replicating and we will send thousands of them in every direction to travel for millions of years interstellarly.

Anyways, I can imagine the same way we have gps mapped the entire planet earth, we can send out thousands of little cellphone like robots who all travel to the edge of our solar system, turn on the lights and cameras and start taping.

It seems like it should be easy to completely know our entire solar system.