New evidence for the existence of a hidden planet in our solar system, scientists claim to have found.
For years, some astronomers have argued that the unusual behavior of celestial bodies at the edge of our solar system is best explained by the existence of another, undiscovered planet. This theory helps explain the orbits of objects located at this point, more than 250 times farther from the Sun than we are.
Now Konstantin Bogytin, an astronomer who helped save the theory, says he and his team have found even more evidence to suggest the existence of this planet, reports the Independent. The new study is “the strongest statistical evidence to date that the Planet 9 it’s really out there,” he stated.
Beyond Neptune
In the new study, the scientists looked at a number of post-Neptune objects, as the objects located at the edge of the solar system, beyond the planet Neptune, are called. Their motion becomes unstable because they interact with Neptune’s orbit. This instability means they are harder to understand, so usually astronomers studying the existence of a possible Planet 9 avoid using them in their analysis.
This time, however, the researchers focused on these objects and tried to understand their movements. And, argued Dr. Bogytin, the best explanation is that they come from another, unexplored planet.
The team ran a series of simulations to understand how the orbits of these objects are affected by a variety of things: the giant planets around them, such as Neptune; the “galactic tide” coming from our galaxy; and passing stars.
However, the best explanation came from the model that included Planet 9, said Dr. Bogytin. There have been other explanations for the behavior of these objects – including the hypothesis that other planets once influenced their orbit but have since drifted away – but they argue that the Planet 9 theory remains the best explanation.
The new Observatory that will “see” him
A better understanding of whether or not Planet 9 exists will come when it activates Vera C Rubin Observatory, they note. This is currently being built in Chile, and when operational it will be able to scan the sky to understand the behavior of these distant objects.
“This upcoming phase of exploration promises to provide critical insights into the mysteries of our solar system’s outer regions,” the team writes in the study, titled “Generation of Low-Inclination, Neptune-Crossing TNOs by Planet Nine,” which is published on arXiv.
