Scientists have discovered a potential new dwarf planet in the outer reaches of our solar system, which contradicts the existing Planet Nine hypothesis. The discovery was made by researchers at Princeton University using archive data from the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey and other telescopes.
The new object, named 2017 OF, is approximately 435 miles (700 kilometers) across, making it a dwarf planet with an elongated orbit. Its existence raises questions about the Planet Nine hypothesis, which proposes that a super-Earth or ice giant exerts gravitational influence on extreme Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs).
However, the discovery of 2017 OF shows that its orbit does not cluster with other TNOs, contradicting the predictions of the Planet Nine model. The researchers suggest that this could mean that Planet Nine has had little to no effect on the object’s orbit, or that it may have only recently arrived in its current position.
The discovery of 2017 OF also highlights the vastness and complexity of our solar system. Despite advances in telescopes and detection methods, there is still much to be discovered about the outer reaches of our solar system.
The researchers plan to further investigate the object’s orbit using more comprehensive simulations to determine if it is stable or unstable under the influence of Planet Nine. If 2017 OF is found to be stable, it could potentially support the existence of a large population of dwarf planets in the outer solar system.
This discovery serves as a reminder that our understanding of the universe is constantly evolving, and new discoveries often challenge existing theories and hypotheses. As researchers continue to explore and study our solar system, they may uncover even more surprises and insights into the workings of the cosmos.
Source: https://www.space.com/astronomy/dwarf-planets/scientists-found-a-possible-new-dwarf-planet-it-could-spell-bad-news-for-planet-9-fans