Int US 349 Folder Collection
Report Subtitle Errors
Because there just might be a Planet X lurking well beyond Neptune.
Hey guys, Amy here for DNews.
Most of us grew up with nine planets.
Then Pluto became a dwarf planet along with the other Kuiper Belt objects and the layout
of our Solar System changed: Now we've got eight planets and hundreds of dwarf planets.
All of these objects orbit the Sun more or less regularly.
and they're throwing a bit of a wrench in how we imagine the Solar System is arranged.
1 Astronomical Unit, or AU is the distance from the Earth to the Sun.
And it's got a companion out there, a recently discovered dwarf planet called 2012 VP113
plaguing astronomers is why: why are those bodies unlike all the other bodies?
They aren't part of a distant debris field, they're too far from Neptune to have their
orbits perturbed by Neptune, and they're too far from the Oort cloud.
It's possible a passing star pulled them away from the Kuiper Belt at some point.
Or it's possible there's a massive planet out there that not only pulled these objects
into their irregular orbits but is also keeping them in their strangely distant place.
It's far too early to tell — astronomers will need to make a lot more observations
to confirm anything — but studying the irregular orbits of these distant tiny worlds could
uncover the existence of a ninth planet in our solar system.
Or tenth, depending on your feelings about Pluto.
This isn't a new way of looking for planets.
It's actually how Neptune was discovered.
Neptune's orbit was predicted based on irregularities observed in Uranus' orbit; lo and behold the planet was there.
Irregularities in Neptune's orbit led to the prediction of an even more distant Planet X.
So could the irregularities in these dwarf planets, when taken together, reveal a new
Planet X orbiting our Sun in our own cosmic backyard?
It might be a long shot, but it's not impossible!
Let us know in the comments below or you can catch me on Twitter as @astVintageSpace.
And don't forget to subscribe for more DNews every day of the week.
    You must  Log in  to get the function.


Did We Find Another Planet In Our Solar System?

349 Folder Collection
Jerry Liu published on May 18, 2019    Jerry Liu translated    Evangeline reviewed
More Recommended Videos


  1. 1. Search word


  2. 2. Repeat single sentence

    Repeat the same sentence to enhance listening ability

  3. 3. Shortcut


  4. 4. Close caption

    Close the English caption

  5. 5. Embed

    Embed the video to your blog

  6. 6. Unfold

    Hide right panel

  1. Listening Quiz

    Listening Quiz!

  1. Click to open your notebook
