The hunt for “Planet 9” continues: “Now we know where to look”

Is there a ninth planet in the solar system? Two researchers believe: Yes, otherwise the movements of some celestial bodies cannot be explained.

Pasadena – According to official figures, there are currently eight planets in our solar system. Michael E., an astronomer at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, was partly responsible for the cancellation of Pluto in 2006. Brown is one reason for this. But over the years, Brown thinks there should still be a ninth planet in the solar system. “All the people who are angry with me can be happy because Pluto is no longer a planet, where a planet has yet to be discovered,” Brown said after the publication of a research paper in 2016: Ninth, a previously unknown planet in the solar system.

Since then, there has been a debate over a possible ninth planet and the search for “Planet 9”. Brown and his researchers discovered the motion of dwarf planets outside the orbit of Neptune on Constantine’s body. The celestial bodies known only in the solar system could not explain them by gravity. The theory of two researchers: A previously unknown object affects the motion of dwarf planets. According to calculations at the time, this “Planet 9” should be 10 times the mass of Earth, twenty times farther away from the Sun than Neptune, and take 10,000 to 20,000 years to orbit the Sun.

Look for “Planet 9”: “Now we know where to look,” say astronomers

Now there is another research project on Brown & Body’s “Planet 9” Released on arXiv servers. “Now we know where to look,” Brown summarizes the publication on his website. Among other things, “Planet 9” underwent numerous simulations with various parameters. Each of these parameters had “major impacts on the outer solar system” in the simulation, Brown describes the result. That is good, allowing the movements of celestial bodies outside the solar system to make decisions about an unknown planet.

Patrick and Brown also publish a celestial map showing what the orbit of an unknown planet looks like and where it is currently. If “Planet 9” were about 6.2 Earth masses, the planet would orbit the Sun at a distance of 300 to 450 AU. AU (astronomical unit) is about 150 million kilometers – the average distance between the Sun and the Earth. On the other hand, if “Planet 9” were only 2.2 Earth’s mass, it could be significantly closer to the Sun at a distance of 85 AU.

“Planet 9” has never been seen before – but two researchers say it should be

But where exactly can you find the infamous Planet 9? “Unfortunately, the data only tells us the orbit, not where the planet is going,” Brown explains on Twitter. “It’s really a big shame.” However, the planet is too far away from the sun because it is moving slowly. “You should see there,” Brown continues, describing himself as a “Pluto Killer” in Trudeau.

Hunting for “Planet 9”: It may have already been discovered

If “Planet 9” really exists, how quickly it can be detected depends on its brightness and size. “The bright variation may have already been taken from various celestial bodies,” the researchers write in their study. “To find the dark variation, you have to search specifically with eight to ten meter telescopes.” Citizen-Science-Project, Citizens Scientists can search for “Planet 9”.

“Pluto Killer” does not believe in the Brown Sphere, whose gravity affects the outer solar system, a primitive black hole. He thinks the theory is “nonsense,” Brown writes on Twitter. However, the new study does not refute the black hole theory. “We can only measure mass. It could be six Earth black holes (but it really isn’t),” says Brown.