Scientists uncover potential evidence for a dwarf planet, tentatively named 'Planet Nine', in their ongoing search.
In the vast expanse of our solar system, a new celestial body has been discovered, challenging theories about the existence of a hypothetical planet, commonly referred to as Planet Nine. This enigmatic world has long been postulated to lurk in the darkness at the outer reaches of our solar system.
Named 2017 OF201, this newly found object, according to a preprint study, measures approximately 700 kilometers (430 miles) in diameter, making it three times smaller than Pluto, big enough, however, to qualify as a dwarf planet.
Situated three times the distance from Earth to Neptune, this remote traveler's orbit extends more than 1,600 times the Earth-Sun distance, sending it deep into the Oort cloud, the ice-laden rim of our solar system. Remarkably, its trajectory suggests it might have ventured close to neighboring stars in the past.
During its 25,000-year orbit, the object would only draw close to Earth for a mere century, growing progressively fainter as it recedes. The discovery of 2017 OF220 indicates the possibility of hundreds of similar objects existing in the Kuiper Belt, the realm lying beyond Neptune.
Major telescopes, such as the James Webb, Hubble, and ALMA, have been requested to observe 2017 OF201 by the research team, who made this discovery after combining efforts to unravel the mystery of Planet Nine.
Interestingly, an amateur astronomer from California, Sam Deen, has been monitoring 2017 OF201 through existing datasets, deeming it "one of the most interesting discoveries in the outer solar system in the last decade."
Planet Nine has been a subject of controversy among astronomers due to its proposed influence on the clustered orbits of distant, icy celestial bodies. These orbits were initially attributed to the hypothetical planet's gravitational pull. However, 2017 OF201's orbit does not align with this pattern, potentially diminishing the argument for Planet Nine's existence.
The Vera Rubin Observatory, scheduled to launch in Chile later this year, may provide clarification as to the dynamics of the outer solar system, potentially confirming or debunking the existence of the legendary Planet Nine.
As the search for Planet Nine continues, some remain optimistic. "We're in an era when big telescopes can see almost to the edge of the universe," said Sihao Cheng of the New Jersey Institute for Advanced Study. "But what is in our 'backyard' still largely remains unknown."
(In collaboration with AFP)
- The discovery of 2017 OF201, a small celestial body found in the outer reaches of our solar system, has sparked an ongoing debate among astronomers about the existence of Planet Nine, given that its trajectory does not align with the patterns previously attributed to the hypothetical planet's gravitational pull.
- Remarkable scientific advancements in astronomy and technology, including the use of powerful telescopes like the James Webb, Hubble, and ALMA, as well as upcoming observatories such as the Vera Rubin Observatory, are increasingly shedding light on the enigmatic objects that reside in the unexplored territories of our solar system, such as 2017 OF201, challenging existing opinions about the nature of space-and-astronomy.
