“ The interesting thing for me is the suggestion of the kinds of very interesting objects that may yet await discovery in the outer solar system.
Although Planet X may not be larger than the mass of the Earth, researchers are still very excited about finding more KBOs, possibly the size of a Plutoid, possibly a little bigger, but not much bigger. Therefore, the modern-day scientific search for Planet X is the search for a large KBO or a minor planet beyond. This search became known as the “search for Planet X”, which literally meant the “search for an as yet unidentified planet.” In the 1980’s these perturbations were put down to observational error. This object may also help explain why some KBOs and tran-Neptunian objects (TNOs) have some strange orbital characteristics (such as Sedna).Įver since Pluto was discovered in 1930, astronomers have been looking for another more massive body that could explain the orbital perturbations observed in the orbits of Neptune and Uranus. This research predicts a large object, 30-70% the mass of the Earth, orbiting at a distance of around 100-200 AU from the Sun. This is an object Lykawka and Mukai believe they have calculated to exist. Many astronomers believe that such a sharp cut-off in KBO population may be due to an as-yet to be discovered planet, possibly as large as Earth. This cliff cannot be attributed to orbital resonances with massive planets such as Neptune, and there doesn’t appear to be any obvious observational error. This is an abrupt end to the Kuiper Belt, very few Kuiper Belt objects (or KBOs) have been observed beyond this point. One such feature is the aptly named “Kuiper Cliff” that occurs at 50 AU. It has been known for many years that the Kuiper Belt has a few strange characteristics that may signal the presence of another large planetary body orbiting the Sun beyond the Kuiper Belt. It contains a vast number of rocky and metallic objects, the largest known body being the dwarf planet ( or “Plutoid”) Eris. The Kuiper Belt occupies a huge region of space, approximately 30-50 AU from the Sun.
Patryk Lykawka and Tadashi Mukai of Kobe University have published a paper in the Astrophysical Journal detailing a minor planet that they believe may be interacting with the mysterious Kuiper Belt. In a new theoretical simulation, two researchers have deduced that the outermost reaches of the Solar System may contain an undiscovered planet. But before we get carried away, this is not Nibiru, this is not proof of the end of the world in 2012 it is a new and very exciting development in the search for minor planets beyond the Kuiper Belt… From their calculations, there might just be a planet, possibly a bit bigger than a Plutoid but certainly smaller than Earth orbiting beyond 100 AU from the Sun. Yesterday (Wednesday, June 18th), Japanese researchers announced news that their theoretical search for a large mass in the outer Solar System has produced results. However, the astronomical evidence for these links is seriously flawed. No Doomsday in 2012 (posted May 19th 2008)Īs I’ve previously discussed in “ 2012: No Planet X“, doomsayers have linked the modern day search for Planet X, the ancient Mayan 2012 Prophecy and the Sumerian mythical planet Nibiru, culminating in bad news for December 21st 2012.2012: Planet X Is Not Nibiru (posted June 19th 2008).2012: No Killer Solar Flare (posted June 21st 2008).2012: No Geomagnetic Reversal (posted October 3rd 2008).But why the fear about the Planet X/Doomsday combination? Surely Planet X is just an unknown, hypothetical object and nothing sinister? Ever since the search for Planet X began in the early 20th Century, the possibility of a hypothetical planet orbiting the Sun beyond the Kuiper Belt has fuelled many Doomsday theories and speculation that Planet X is actually the Sun’s long lost binary sibling.
The Solar System’s outer reaches still contain many minor planets yet to be discovered.
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