Context:
Astronomers have been scouring the outer solar system for signs of a hypothetical ninth planet for almost a decade, without success. However, experts say we may finally be on the cusp of finding it.
Relevance:
Facts for Prelims
About:
- Planet Nine is a theorized planet located in the outer reaches of our solar system.
- This concept was introduced to account for peculiarities in the orbits of distant trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), particularly those with highly elliptical and clustered trajectories.
Characteristics:
- Mass: Estimated to be between 5 and 10 times that of Earth.
- Orbit: Believed to have a highly elliptical path with a semi-major axis ranging from 400 to 800 AU (astronomical units).
- One AU equals the average distance from Earth to the Sun, approximately 93 million miles or 150 million kilometers.
- Orbital Period: Could span between 10,000 and 20,000 years.
- Distance: At its nearest, it may be around 200 AU from the Sun, and at its farthest, about 1,200 AU.
Current Status:
The search for this possible ninth planet in our solar system may soon reach a conclusion. With the Vera C. Rubin Observatory expected to open in 2025, we might finally discover Planet Nine in the coming years—or definitively dismiss the hypothesis.
-Source: The Hindu
