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ScienceQuiet 10d · day 10

Is there a hidden 'Planet 9' in our solar system?

Astronomers continue searching for a hypothetical ninth planet in the outer solar system that could explain clustering of distant objects.

newest coverage 9d agosummary written 9d ago3 pieces MastodonNewswiresGoogle News

What to know

  • Astronomers have searched for a ninth planet in the outer solar system for over a century, initially through orbital irregularities in known planets.
  • A hypothetical Planet Nine with roughly Neptune's mass could explain the spatial clustering of extreme trans-Neptunian objects.
  • Pluto's 2006 reclassification as a dwarf planet reignited debate about the solar system's structure, though the search for a true ninth planet continues separately.
  • Some astronomers now express confidence that discovery of Planet Nine could be imminent, despite the hypothesis remaining unconfirmed.

“For more than a century, astronomers have been captivated by the idea that an undiscovered planet could be lurking in the furthest reaches of our solar system.”

Space.com · Space.com ↗

Percival Lowell American astronomerClyde W. Tombaugh Astronomer

Is there a hidden 'Planet 9' in our solar system?
Space.com

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 3h at Sep 14, 7 AM; 3 pieces over 10 days (2 articles · 1 post) Sep 14, 7 AM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Sep 14, 10 AM — quietSep 14, 1 PM — quietSep 14, 4 PM — quietSep 14, 7 PM — quietSep 14, 10 PM — quietSep 15, 1 AM — quietSep 15, 4 AM — quietSep 15, 7 AM — quietSep 15, 10 AM — quietSep 15, 1 PM — quietSep 15, 4 PM — quietSep 15, 7 PM — quietSep 15, 10 PM — quietSep 16, 1 AM — quietSep 16, 4 AM — quietSep 16, 7 AM — quietSep 16, 10 AM — quietSep 16, 1 PM — quietSep 16, 4 PM — quietSep 16, 7 PM — quietSep 16, 10 PM — quietSep 17, 1 AM — quietSep 17, 4 AM — quietSep 17, 7 AM — quietSep 17, 10 AM — quietSep 17, 1 PM — quietSep 17, 4 PM — quietSep 17, 7 PM — quietSep 17, 10 PM — quietSep 18, 1 AM — quietSep 18, 4 AM — quietSep 18, 7 AM — quietSep 18, 10 AM — quietSep 18, 1 PM — quietSep 18, 4 PM — quietSep 18, 7 PM — quietSep 18, 10 PM — quietSep 19, 1 AM — quietSep 19, 4 AM — quietSep 19, 7 AM — quietSep 19, 10 AM — quietSep 19, 1 PM — quietSep 19, 4 PM — quietSep 19, 7 PM — quietSep 19, 10 PM — quietSep 20, 1 AM — quietSep 20, 4 AM — quietSep 20, 7 AM — quietSep 20, 10 AM — quietSep 20, 1 PM — quietSep 20, 4 PM — quietSep 20, 7 PM — quietSep 20, 10 PM — quietSep 21, 1 AM — quietSep 21, 4 AM — quietSep 21, 7 AM — quietSep 21, 10 AM — quietSep 21, 1 PM — quietSep 21, 4 PM — quietSep 21, 7 PM — quietSep 21, 10 PM — quietSep 22, 1 AM — quietSep 22, 4 AM — quietSep 22, 7 AM — quietSep 22, 10 AM — quietSep 22, 1 PM — quietSep 22, 4 PM — quietSep 22, 7 PM — quietSep 22, 10 PM — quietYesterday, 1 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 10 AM — quietYesterday, 1 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 10 PM — quietToday, 1 AM — quietToday, 4 AM — quiet 1
Sep 15Sep 16Sep 17Sep 18Sep 19Sep 20Sep 21Sep 22now · 6:44 AM ET
  1. 1

    Astronomers express renewed confidence in Planet Nine discovery

    Space.com reports that beyond the Pluto controversy, the quest to determine whether a hidden ninth planet exists in the solar system continues, with some astronomers more confident than ever that its discovery could be imminent.

    “The existence of a roughly Neptune-mass Planet Nine could explain why the few known extreme trans-Neptunian objects seem to be clustered together in space.”
    — Space.com
    1. 1 outlet Is there a hidden 'Planet 9' in our solar system?

      first by Space, 9d ago

  2. background

    Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet — In August 2006, Pluto was formally reclassified as a dwarf planet, withdrawing its long-held planetary status and launching a debate that continues today.

  3. background

    Clyde Tombaugh discovers Pluto — Astronomer Clyde W. Tombaugh discovered Pluto, seemingly culminating the search for a ninth planet.

  4. background

    Neptune discovered via gravitational inference — The discovery of Neptune in 1846 demonstrated that an unseen planet might be inferred from its gravitational effects on other worlds, establishing the method that would guide the search for further distant planets.