The Solar System may once again have a ninth planet thanks to the involvement of a new “warrior” from Chile.
In a recent interview with Live Science, several astronomers argue that in just a few years—possibly as soon as two years—Earthlings will be able to discover the elusive ninth planet hiding in the outer orbit of the dwarf planet Pluto.
This dream may soon be realized by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, which is set to commence operations in 2025.
Astronomer Mike Brown from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), who proposed the hypothesis of the ninth planet along with a colleague, stated: “It’s hard to explain a Solar System without a ninth planet. But there’s no way to be 100% sure until you see it.”
The ninth planet hiding in the dark region near the edge of the Solar System – (Image AI: ANH THƯ).
This statement alludes to the hypothesis of the ninth planet, which is increasingly supported by indirect evidence.
The ninth planet is not Pluto; the former ninth planet was demoted by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) in 2006. Instead, it is a massive planet located far beyond Pluto, which could take 10,000 to 20,000 years to orbit the Sun.
No one has yet observed this planet, but astronomers believe it exists because multiple research teams have found its “ghost.”
This “ghost” is manifested in the unusual movements of objects beyond Neptune’s orbit. Occasionally, some objects appear to be pulled and pushed by an invisible force, causing them to behave unpredictably in their orbits.
The leading scenario suggests that there is a very large planet with an extremely strong gravitational pull hiding in the dark region near the edge of the Solar System, silently interacting with those objects.
The objects affected by this gravitational influence include Sedna—a potential dwarf planet located beyond the Kuiper Belt, the asteroid 2012 VP113, and several other worlds.
Dr. Brown, his collaborators, and several other teams have identified 16 objects that are influenced by the hypothetical ninth planet.
According to Dr. Brown, it should be the fifth largest planet in our solar system, following Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, and Uranus. It likely has a composition most similar to Neptune.
Astronomer Alessandro Morbidelli from the Côte d’Azur Observatory in France also told Live Science in an email that it is “very likely” that the ninth planet exists.
Dr. David Rabinowitz, an astrophysicist at Yale University, believes that the existence of this mysterious planet is the most reasonable explanation for the eccentric objects they have found beyond Neptune’s orbit.
Dr. Sean Raymond from the Bordeaux Astrophysics Laboratory in France expressed in an email to Live Science that he is 90% confident about the existence of the ninth planet.
Dr. Brown and his team have begun analyzing data from the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, which is currently considered the most advantageous for observation.
However, if this survey does not complete its work, they will turn to the Vera C. Rubin Observatory currently under construction in Chile.
Dr. Brown stated that with the support of this modern telescope, the ninth planet could be discovered within the next two years.
Equipped with the world’s largest digital camera, the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, set to debut in Chile, is expected to capture revolutionary night sky images that will transform astronomy. This $473 million observational system has its first mission as Earth defense—specifically, early detection of threatening asteroids. Following this, it is tasked with identifying unseen interstellar comets, free-floating stars, and failed planets. Additionally, it will search for the ninth planet. |
