Astronomers worldwide are once again searching for signs of a potential ninth planet beyond Neptune. The idea gained momentum after a team from the University of Cambridge discovered hints of life on an exoplanet, K2-18b, and Mike Brown from Caltech studied evidence for a new giant in our outer neighborhood.
Researchers at a Taiwanese university believe they have found a Neptune-sized object orbiting between 46.5 and 65.1 billion miles from the sun. This finding is based on two deep infrared surveys taken over two decades apart, which revealed faint signs of planetary movement.
Infrared data from 1983 and 2006 showed an anomaly that could indicate the presence of a new planet. If confirmed, this object would be massive, with an estimated mass ranging from seven to seventeen times that of Earth.
The hypothetical planet’s distance from the sun would result in extremely cold temperatures, potentially as low as –370°F. It may have a thick atmosphere and would reflect very little sunlight, making it difficult to detect using normal telescopes.
To further investigate, researchers plan to compare images taken with infrared telescopes in space. If the signal persists, it could reveal a slow-moving planet rather than a stationary background source. The findings spark excitement among astronomers but also emphasize the need for follow-up observations and confirmation of a full orbit.
The discovery of Planet Nine, if confirmed, would rewrite astronomy textbooks and challenge our understanding of how the solar system formed. It might also lead to new insights into the search for planets around other stars and potentially reveal hidden giants in our own system.
Source: https://www.earth.com/news/astronomers-announce-evidence-suggesting-that-our-solar-system-has-nine-planets-again