Astronomers suggest that there are
'probably more' planets yet to be found in a little-studied area at the 'fringe' or our solar system, known as the 'inner Oort cloud'.
If confirmed, the new observation could change our view of the solar system forever.
The new theory comes from observations of space rocks beyond Neptune – which orbit at angles which don't make sense unless
there is something else there.
Astronomers have debated for decades whether there is an unknown, dark, trans-Plutonian planet in our solar system – but
calculations made by scientists at
the Complutense University of Madrid and the University of Cambridge suggest there could be more than one.
The astronomers found that at least a dozen objects beyond Neptune have unusual orbits, hinting at unseen objects pulling them towards them.
'This excess of objects with unexpected orbital parameters makes us believe that some invisible forces are altering the
distribution of the orbital elements of the ETNO and we consider that the most probable explanation is that other unknown planets exist beyond Neptune and Pluto,'
explains Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, scientist at the UCM and co-author of the study.
'The exact number is uncertain, given that the data that we have is limited, but our calculations suggest that there are at least
two planets, and probably more, within the confines of our solar system'
The research suggests that the objects may be lurking in a little-studied area at the 'fringe' or our solar system, known as the 'inner Oort cloud'.
The first hints of their existence came from the discovery of icy 'dwarf planets' Sedna and 2012VP113 – and scientists studying their orbits realised their might be something massive on the edge of our solar system pulling Sedna and its fellow 'dwarf planet' out into the frigid depths of space.
The research highlights how little we actually know about the edges of our own solar system – but hints that there ARE two large, unknown planets, lurking in the depths of the inner Oort cloud. Scientists believe there could be up to 900 more large
objects out there.
Our current telescopes may not be powerful enough to pick out these distant objects, scientists have said – and there may be even more lurking in the depths of the inner
Oort cloud.
'A population of asteroids could be
shepherded by a distant, undiscovered planet larger than the Earth,' the researchers suggest.
The team analysed the orbits, and found that they converged in a way that 'strongly suggest that at least two trans-Plutonian planets must exist.'
Nothing is known of what these planets would be like – but the scientists have guessed that they lie at 200 astronomical units (one astronomical unit is 93 million
miles) and 250 astrononomical units beyond the sun.
'If there are two planets, one at nearly 200 au and another one at approximately 250 au, their combined resonances may clear the area of objects in a fashion similar to what is observed between the orbits of Jupiter
and Saturn,' the researchers write.
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