Thursday, January 21, 2016

The solar system has nine planets (again)


Artist's depiction of Planet Nine


Astronomers at the California Institute of Technology claim they have evidence that a ninth planet, about 10 times the mass of Earth, orbits the sun about 20 times further than Neptune.   So far, they haven't actually seen the planet, possibly because it is so far from the sun, it doesn't reflect enough light to be seen by the most powerful telescopes.

They made their conclusions by observing certain objects in the Kuiper Belt, and calculating that only a huge planet could affect the orbits of smaller bodies. 

So far, it has been given the mundane, unimaginative nickname "Planet Nine". 



http://www.edition.cnn.com/2016/01/20/us/possible-ninth-planet/index.html

http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/new-evidence-suggests-a-ninth-planet-lurking-at-the-edge-of-the-solar-system/ar-BBotNpO?li=BBnb7Kz?ocid=ansmsnnews11

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