New data indicate the presence of a planet beyond Pluto’s orbit
The dynamic properties of distant asteroids, which were first observed with the Gran Telescopio CANARIAS, indicate the existence of yet another planet in our Solar System. It is a potential Planet 9.
Objects thatóre studied by scientists is the so-called. ETNO (extreme trans Neptunian objects). The first of such facilityów was spotted in 2000. ETNOs are characterized by orbits beyond the orbit of Neptune. Recent observations of dwóch of them indicate interactions with a massive object. It could be Planet 9.
Last January, several object were spottedóin the Solar System, whichóric behavior indicated that they may be influenced by the gravity of an as yet undiscovered planet. This information caused quite a stir in the media. Recent studies also suggest the presence of this planet.
The studied objects are located very far from us therefore it is difficult to analyze them. They circle the sun at a distance of about 150 au (skrót from astronomical unit, 1 au = approximately 150 millionóper kilometerów). It is much farther away than Pluto is located. This dwarf planet is in an orbit 40 au distant from the Sun.
Recent spectroscopic observations made by researchers at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias with coól collaboration with the Complutense University of Madrid, further characterized ETNO.
They were observed mainlyównie two objects – 2004 VN112 and 2013 RF98. They have very similar orbits, suggesting that they have commonólne roots. Their spectra are also identical. Scientists after observations more accurately determined the orbits of these objectsów and concluded that both ETNOs were once a sub-planetoidójna, whichórej parts were separated during an encounter with a planet outside Pluto’s orbit. It may be of so-called. Planet 9.
– The observed object similarityóin 2004 VN112 and 2013 RF98 indicate that their wspólne origin. We have hypothesized that the two objects were once a system of subójny torn apart during an encounter with a more massive object – said Julia de León, an astrophysicist at the Instituto de Astrofisica de Canarias.
The researchers supported their thesis with computer simulations, with któThe results show that a possible Planet 9 may orbit at a distance of 300-600 au from the Sun. Its mass would have been about 10-20 Earth masses. The simulation also showed that encounters with ETNO objects occurred around 5-10 millionów years ago.
The results and conclusions drawn from the observations were published on „Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society”.
