Our solar system once had nine planets, but things changed when Pluto lost its planetary status in 2006.
Ever since, astronomers worldwide have hunted for signs that we might still have a ninth planet out there, hanging way beyond Neptune.
Signs in the icy belt Astronomers have long paid attention to the Kuiper Belt, a region filled with icy bodies past Neptune.
The data so far can’t confirm a full orbit, and some astronomers want follow-up observations by powerful ground-based or space-based instruments.
Our understanding of how the solar system formed would need to include a new piece: a distant giant that somehow escaped detection for decades.
When Pluto lost its planetary status in 2006, the nine planets that once made up our solar system were no longer there. Since then, scientists from all over the world have been searching for evidence that there may still be a ninth planet orbiting far beyond Neptune.
A team led by Nikku Madhusudhan of the University of Cambridge discovered signs of life on the far-off exoplanet K2-18b.
Possible evidence for a new planet in our outer neighborhood has also been studied by Caltech’s Mike Brown, and these studies have spurred discussions about bringing the count back to nine.
exploring the far reaches.
A Taiwanese university’s researchers think an object the size of Neptune might be straying between 46.5 and 65.1 billion miles from the sun.
Two deep infrared surveys conducted more than 20 years apart using equipment sensitive enough to pick up a faint planetary glow served as the basis for their new discoveries.
The 1983 and 2006 infrared data provided a unique opportunity to determine whether there was any movement between observations.
A potential candidate surfaced, and the team estimates that orbiting the sun could take 10,000–20,000 years.
The icy belt’s signs.
Beyond Neptune, a region full of icy bodies is known as the Kuiper Belt, and astronomers have long been interested in it.
Some odd patterns can be seen in that area, such as groups of objects that seem to be drawn together by a strong, invisible force.
NASA also reports that some objects in the Kuiper Belt move in the opposite direction from everything else.
That pull might be caused by a planet that hangs out in space, supporting the theory that our cosmic family may not be finished at eight members.
past the shadow of Pluto.
Due to its path overlap with other objects, Pluto was reclassified. Pluto does not comply with the new definition, which states that a planet must remove other large bodies from its orbit.
It appears to be doing exactly that, if this new world is real. The fact that it would only slightly reflect sunlight suggests that it may be as massive as Neptune and have sufficient gravity to hold smaller objects in line.
What is it composed of and how large is it?
If this object exists, it may weigh seven to seventeen times as much as Earth, according to researchers. As opposed to being a rocky planet like Earth or Mars, it falls into the category of ice giants, like Uranus or Neptune.
The temperature there could be anywhere between -370°F and -360°F due to its extreme distance from the sun. Even though its atmosphere is dense with gas and ice, sunlight wouldn’t be reflected very much.
This makes detection difficult with standard telescopes, particularly in visible light.
Old survey clues.
Scientists can see objects too faint for optical telescopes thanks to infrared telescopes in space. Asteroids and dusty galaxies were among the objects captured by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite during its 1983 sky scan.
Years later, a Japanese satellite called AKARI conducted its own survey. When comparing the two sets, an object that might have moved slightly was discovered, suggesting that it might not be a stationary background source but rather a slow-moving planet.
Other surprises in space.
The search for a new planet coincides with a boom in exoplanet research. Astronomers researching far-off worlds have already noticed odd molecules and atmospheres.
Scientists reported discovering an exoplanet with the lowest temperature ever recorded in 2020. Researchers are constantly prompted to consider what else might be concealed in plain sight by these kinds of findings.
cautious optimism.
While many people in the field are enthusiastic, they are not acting hastily. Since a complete orbit cannot be confirmed by the data currently available, some astronomers are calling for additional observations using potent instruments in space or on the ground.
Only two sets of old photos featured the candidate, so new photos will be important. Whether this body is on a planetary trajectory or something else in the dark could be determined by a few more verified sightings.
Next steps.
Teams intend to revisit the same sky region. They want to know if the tiny signal continues to slither along at the expected speed for an object located far beyond Neptune.
We could put the last piece in our solar puzzle if a recurring pattern shows up. The downgrade of Pluto may soon cause scientists to reconsider their initial assessment of the planet lineup.
What would happen if Planet Nine were real?
A significant revision of astronomy textbooks may be necessary if Planet Nine is proven to be real.
A far-off giant that somehow eluded discovery for decades would have to be added to our understanding of how the solar system formed.
The way we search for planets around other stars may also be altered. Similar hidden giants might be prevalent elsewhere if our own system conceals a world this far out, and we’ve most likely missed a lot of them.
The study was published in the Australian Astronomical Society’s Publications.
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