The Elusive Planet 9 may not be a Planet after all
A mysterious object is roaming the edges of our solar system. It is so distant that it cannot be spotted directly by current technology, its mass could be up to 10 times bigger in comparison to Earth and generates a gravitational field that is able to influence nearby objects.
A new article proposes a daring hypothesis that challenges the current views about the object. The article claims that the object may not singular planet. An association of smaller objects could work in tandem in order to exert the same gravitational pull that usually signals the presence of a huge celestial body.
The paper has been well-received by some astronomers, since it manages to provide a feasible alternative to the Planet 9 scenario that has been dominating the media in the recent months. Even if the explanation is not the right one, the premise could lead to a realistic answer in the long run.
The Kuiper belt is an exotic orbital region that can be found near Neptune. The area is filled with rocks and frozen bodies that have remained there since the young Universe was in the early stages of development.
While most of these objects are clearly influenced by Neptune some of them seem to be affected by a shady force that cannot be explained.
A number of astronomers believe that the Culprit could be Planet Nine. The paper offers a selection of arguments that seek to disprove this theory. Even if Planet Nine is real, the gravitational influence is too large to be generated by a single body. Its origin is also controversial, since its unusual position cannot be explained reasonably.
The authors came up with an interesting theory. If the planet does exist it could be shaped in the form of a large disk comprised of residues that remained after the Big Bang took place.
In approximately 4 years a new telescope will become operational. The Large Synoptic Survey Telescope should be able to track down the object and solve the issue once and for all.
As our second lead editor, Anna C. Mackinno provides guidance on the stories Great Lakes Ledger reporters cover. She has been instrumental in making sure the content on the site is clear and accurate for our readers. If you see a particularly clever title, you can likely thank Anna. Anna received a BA and and MA from Fordham University.
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