Astronomers have identified a potential new dwarf planet, 2017 OF201, which orbits far beyond Pluto in the Solar System. The object is approximately 700 kilometers wide and has an extreme orbit that brings it as close as 44 astronomical units from the Sun, taking 25,000 years to complete.
This discovery challenges theories surrounding Planet Nine, a hypothetical large planet believed to reside in the outer Solar System. Researchers found that without Planet Nine, 2017 OF201 can maintain a stable orbit, but with its presence, the object is ejected from the Solar System within 100 million years.
Lead astrophysicist Sihao Cheng notes that this single object’s detection suggests there may be hundreds more similar objects in the Kuiper Belt and beyond. However, their distance makes them undetectable by current instruments.
Source: https://www.sciencealert.com/scientists-discover-new-dwarf-planet-in-solar-system-far-beyond-pluto