According to scientists Patrick Sofia Likaoka and Takashi Ito, our solar system may not have eight planets, but nine. This is the conclusion of their report published in the scientific journal “The Astronomical Journal.” They write that there is likely a never-before-discovered Earth-like planet on the outskirts of our solar system. It may be up to three times larger and 250 to 500 times farther from the Sun than Earth. They came to this conclusion while studying the Kuiper Belt. It is a collection of dwarf planets, comets and little-explored celestial bodies located beyond Neptune – the planet farthest from the Sun. Therefore, they are also known as trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs).
The simulation produced a result indicating the existence of a new planet
One of these objects is called Sedna, and it was even a planet candidate when it was found in November 2003. Scientists have now discovered that its orbit, like the orbits of other nearby celestial bodies, indicates the presence of a planet. According to Lekawka and Ito, this was discovered through computer simulations that reproduced the various gravitational forces in our solar system. In these simulations, only an Earth-like celestial body could explain the observed orbital anomalies. “The results of the Kuiper Belt planet scenario confirm the existence of an as-yet-undiscovered planet in the outer solar system and predict new TNO discoveries,” they wrote in the report.
A new look at the solar system
According to both scientists, if it was indeed a planet, a new definition of the word planet would be needed, because celestial bodies located farther than Pluto would belong to a new category. This discovery could also provide new information about the birth of our solar system. “Even the discovery of one or more new TNOs could revolutionize our theories about the formation of the solar system,” the scientists write.
You can see for yourself how beautiful the space is by purchasing a home telescope (links to popular model displays can be found below), or by browsing the gallery of images taken by the James Webb Telescope at the end of this material.
Current offers of popular telescopes:
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