New planets: Undated handout artist impression of one of the two
as-yet undiscovered planets as big as Earth or larger may be hiding in
the outer fringes of the Solar System, scientists believe
At least two Earth-sized planets may be hidden on the edge of our solar system, an astronomer has said.
Prof Carlos de la Fuente Marcos’s study of rocks beyond Neptune and
dwarf planet Pluto showed “invisible forces” affect their orbits.
He said: “The most probable explanation is that unknown planets exist.
“The exact number is uncertain but our calculations suggest there are at least two, probably more.”
If the results are confirmed it “may be revolutionary for astronomy”, he said.
The Madrid university professor’s study looked at rocks known as extreme trans-Neptunion objects.
The findings are published in journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters. Beyond Jupiter: Planets Venus and Jupiter shine above the shoreline along the Miankaleh Peninsula in Iran
At least two as-yet undiscovered planets as big as Earth or larger
may be hiding in the outer fringes of the Solar System, scientists
believe.
The secret worlds are thought to exist beyond the orbits of Neptune,
the furthest true planet from the Sun, and the even more distant tiny
“dwarf planet” Pluto.
The evidence comes from observations of a belt of space rocks known as “extreme trans-Neptunion objects” (Etnos).
Orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune, Etnos should be distributed randomly with paths that have certain defined characteristics.
But a dozen of the bodies have completely unexpected orbital values
consistent with them being influenced by the gravitational pull of
something unseen.
Astronomers have spent decades debating whether a hidden planet beyond Pluto remained undiscovered.
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