Astronomers claim that the ninth disappeared planet existed in our solar system, but was “ kicked ” into distant space

Most adults today grew up learning that our solar system was home to nine planets. When “Pluto” was demoted from its planet status, the younger generation was now taught that the number was eight. However, scientists have now found evidence that there was a ninth planet that revolved around the sun and was “pushed” into distant space during its formation.

According to a study by researchers at the Carnegie Institution for Science that involved a simulation model, a giant ice planet existed between Uranus and Saturn. Gravitational interactions between massive planets during the early days of the solar system led to the ejection of the giant planet.

“We now know that there are thousands of planetary systems in our own Milky Way galaxy alone,” Matt Clement, lead author of the study. “But it turns out the arrangement of the planets in our Solar System is very unusual, so we’re using models to decode and replicate its formative processes. This is a bit like trying to figure out what happened in a car accident after the Fact – a what speed the cars were going, in what directions and so on. “

Lost member of the solar bloodline

During his childhood, a rotating disk of gas and dust from which all the planets were born surrounded the earth. The earliest orbits of the newly formed planets and planetoids are believed to be dense and circular. However, gravitational interactions between the more massive bodies disrupted the positioning of all objects. This led to the small giant planets shuffling their positions in the orbital order and led to the existing arrangement.

The idea of ​​the existence of “Planet 9” was put forward in 2015 by scientists from the California Institute for Technology on the basis of mathematical evidence. Their hypothesis suggested that the Neptune-sized planet probably weighs ten times more than Earth and revolves around the Sun in an extremely elongated elliptical orbit 20 times farther than Neptune. NASA has speculated that the planet may take 10,000 and 20,000 Earth years to complete one revolution of the Sun.

Being “alienated” from the family

For the study, the authors used a simulation model that performed 6,000 simulations of the evolution of the solar system. This revealed several unpredictable details, including those about the connection between Jupiter and Saturn. Their orbital paths and rhythm are said to have undergone changes to position themselves in the positions we see today.

Through the model, the scientists also found that the positions of Uranus and Neptune were dictated by the mass of the Kuiper Belt, a region on the edge of our solar system that consists of dwarf planets and planetoids. And it is in this pattern that the gigantic “marginalized” planet has played a role. The gravitational exchanges have literally “thrown” the planet out of the fray.

“This indicates that while our Solar System is a little weird, it hasn’t always been like this,” explained Clement. “Furthermore, now that we have established the effectiveness of this model, we can use it to help us observe the formation of terrestrial planets, including our own, and perhaps to inform our ability to look elsewhere for similar systems that may have the potential to host the planet. life “.

Search the boundaries of the solar system

In another recently published study, Yale University astronomers attempted to find the so-called lost planet using a telescopic technique known as “shifting and stacking,” previously employed for the discovery of other celestial bodies. Here, they “move” the space telescope in a similar way to clicking photos while a camera is moving. Next, they “stack” numerous images together in a way that blends their faint light. The logic of the authors was that if Planet 9 existed, it could be immensely weak.

If the planet exists potentially, it could be 14 to 27 times that of Neptune from the Sun. “This is a region of space that is almost entirely unexplored,” said Gregory Laughlin, senior author of the study in a statement. Astronomers successfully used the imaging technique to locate the light signals of three established Trans-Neptunian (TNO) objects.

Next, they searched two sectors in the outer layers of the solar system hoping to find planet 9 or any other undiscovered object in the Kuiper belt. They identified 17 potential objects. “If even one of these candidate objects were real, it would help us understand the dynamics of the outer solar system and the likely properties of Planet Nine. This is compelling new information,” said Malena Rice, lead author of the study. Laughlin added that the study’s success could really help find Planet 9.