Analysis Suggests Solar System Contains Massive Trans-Neptunian Objects

BarbaraHudson writes NBC News reports that at least two planets larger than Earth likely lurk far beyond Pluto, just waiting to be discovered, a new analysis of the orbits of "extreme trans-Neptunian objects" (ETNOs) suggests. The potential undiscovered worlds would be more massive than Earth and would lie about 200 AU or more from the sun — so far away that they'd be very difficult, if not impossible, to spot with current instruments. "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," lead author Carlos de la Fuente Marcos, of the Complutense University of Madrid, said. (Here's the longer version at Space.com.)

Comments

Re:I still think Pluto is a planet

[Anonymous Coward]

Pluto has tenure.

Re: Riiiiight.

[Anonymous Coward]

are your protuberances a little bit perturbed?

Re:Yuggoth

[stjobe]

"Why choose the lesser of two evils? Vote Cthulhu for President 2016"

Re:Probe

[Anonymous Coward]

You think in another 108 years you'll have mastered the difference between its and it's?