Scientists from Rice University claim to have found fresh evidence of Planet Nine, a hypothetical ninth planet in our solar system. According to complex simulations, there’s around a 40% chance that a Planet Nine-like object exists.
The team used advanced computer models to show that wide-orbit planets like Planet Nine are not anomalies, but rather natural by-products of early planetary system development. These “pinball” effects, where giant planets scatter each other, can lead to the formation of wide-orbit planets.
Researchers believe that if Planet Nine exists, it could be discovered using the Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile. The observatory is set to send back its first images within weeks and has the ability to survey the sky in depth and detail.
The discovery could help explain the unique orbits of some smaller objects in the Kuiper Belt, a region of icy debris beyond Neptune’s orbit. If confirmed, Planet Nine would be about five to 10 times the mass of Earth and circle our sun on an elongated path far beyond Pluto.
With new simulations and observations, scientists are now more confident than ever that Planet Nine might exist. The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to significantly advance the search for distant solar system objects, increasing the likelihood of detecting Planet Nine or providing evidence needed to rule out its existence.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-14757001/Planet-Nine-DOES-exist-scientists.html