The presence of two additional planets might explain the unexpected orbital features of some trans-Neptunian objects.
Scientists have postulated the existence of possibly two undiscovered planets beyond the orbit of Neptune to explain discrepancies in the orbits of extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNO). The objects have orbits that take them beyond the orbit of the planet Neptune.
Theory predicts that they be randomly distributed and that their orbits must have a semi-major axis with a value around 150 AU; an orbital inclination of nearly zero degrees; and an angle of perihelion, the point in the object’s orbit at which it is closest to the Sun, of zero to 180 degrees.
However, a dozen ETNO do not fit these orbital criteria. These objects have semi-major axis values of 150 to 525 AU, orbital inclinations of around 20 degrees, and angles of perihelion far from 180 degrees.
According to a statement, a new study by astrophysicists at the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM) and University of Cambridge have calculated that these orbital discrepancies could be explained by the existence of at least two additional planets beyond the orbits of Neptune and dwarf planet Pluto. Their study suggests that the gravitational pulls of those two planets must be disturbing the orbits of some smaller ETNO.
However, there are two difficulties with the hypothesis. One is that current models of the formation of our solar system do not allow for additional planets beyond Neptune. Secondly, the team’s sample size is very small, only 13 objects. However, additional results are in the pipeline, which will expand the sample.
“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,” said Carlos de la Fuente Marcos of UCM and lead author on the study.
The new findings have been published in two papers published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters.
Source : thespacereporter
Pluto’s revenge 🙂
Blog Serendipity Moment: Just finished reading Asimov’s “Nightfall” 🙂
We all heard that the mankind continuously discovered new planets, systems or etc. These are good news. However, I guess, in fact these news should be like these:
“The mankind’s machines found the new planets or systems or etc.”
So I mean Hubble and the others, even Mars Curiosity Rover makes own job very well. But, if we mentioned about the mankind, there are always mishaps. For example today I heard a news about ISS. You know, International Space Station. A day before, one toilet had been broken(I don’t know how:), and astronauts, sorry cosmonauts (because, this event has happen on the Russian segment), and cosmonauts, they repaired the toilet, leaving aside the all jobs. here is the news:
http://news2night.com/en/news/rossijskie-kosmonavty-pochinili-slomavshijsja-tualet-na-mks
So I mean that “Trust the machines. They do not have humane needs, and they don’t need to leave their jobs for such a thing. They should be appreciated enough in the news.”:)
I completely agree with you migarium . Almost all the knowledge about outer space comes from these machines whether it is from great Hubble telescope or Galileo space Probe which was crashed into Jupiter.
But you have to think that WE (Humans) are making these machines. so, Directly or Indirectly Its Mankind’s Achievements.
Lastly,You have Said “Trust the machines ” I believe you didn’t watch Terminator Series 😉
Surely, I’ve watched Terminator Series. My thought about them, this movie series are all black propaganda about the machines:p I always like to see the glass half full:) Lets look those movies, my Earthlings friend; Wall-E, Sonny from I,Robot, animated film “9”, Bicentennial Man, Robot & Frank, or, of course C-3PO and R2-D2 and etc… They all deserve the trust, even more than the human being, don’t you think 😉
Yep, I am just joking 😉
I completely understand your point 🙂
I knew that:)