Slashdot Mirror


Astronomers Say There Could Be At Least Two More Mystery Planets In Our Solar System (sciencealert.com)

schwit1 quotes a report from ScienceAlert: A team of astronomers has performed new calculations on the data that originally gave rise to the Planet Nine hypothesis, and these new numbers suggest that the hypothetical extra planet might not be alone -- there could be multiple planets hiding at the edge of our Solar System that we've yet to discover. If the researchers are correct -- which nobody knows for sure right now -- it could really mean a do-over for the high school textbooks. The scientists estimate that Planet Nine is 10 times more massive than Earth, and think it performs an extremely elongated orbit of the Sun, that takes between 10,000 and 20,000 years to complete. The Caltech researchers based their hypothesis for the existence of Planet Nine on the unusual movement of six large objects floating in the Kuiper belt, suggesting that their orbits are being shaped by a hidden planet.

48 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Distance? by invictusvoyd · · Score: 4, Interesting
    1. Re:Distance? by buchner.johannes · · Score: 1

      ... is just numerology. Fails for Neptune and exoplanets.

      --
      NB: The message above might reflect my opinion right now, but not necessarily tomorrow or next year.
  2. So there would be 11 then? by EzInKy · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Neptune, Uranus, Pluto. That is what I learned. A couple more would be dandy!!

    --
    Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
    1. Re:So there would be 11 then? by PolygamousRanchKid+ · · Score: 5, Funny

      Most solar systems only go up to 10 . . . but ours goes up to 11!

      --
      Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
    2. Re:So there would be 11 then? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

      Speaking of Uranus,

      A Muslim walks into a gay bar and says to the bartender "Shots for everyone!"

    3. Re:So there would be 11 then? by Hognoxious · · Score: 1

      Same here. Luckily, only three had been discovered then.

      --
      Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
    4. Re:So there would be 11 then? by Mr+D+from+63 · · Score: 1

      The odds are astronomical.

    5. Re:So there would be 11 then? by Big+Hairy+Ian · · Score: 2

      It's not Planet 10! It's Planet X!!!!

      --

      Build a Man a Fire, and He'll Be Warm for a Day. Set a Man on Fire, and He'll Be Warm for the Rest of His Life.

    6. Re:So there would be 11 then? by jfdavis668 · · Score: 1

      Ours is one louder!

    7. Re:So there would be 11 then? by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 2

      Two suns, my friend, two suns.

      --
      Ezekiel 23:20
    8. Re:So there would be 11 then? by plopez · · Score: 1

      Mother very easily made a jam sandwich using no peanu tbutter mayonaisse or glue

      --
      putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
  3. Re:76 planets by Opportunist · · Score: 3

    Star light is invisible in space? WTF?

    --
    We used to have a Bill of Rights. Now, with the rights gone, all we have left is the bill.
  4. Oh, boy by Coisiche · · Score: 1

    This claim will eventually make it in to mainstream news, except presented as a claim of certainty rather than hypothesis. Which is going to be followed by a lot of "Niburu discovered!" posts on social media.

    1. Re:Oh, boy by phishybongwaters · · Score: 1

      already has. And this whole planet 9 thing is an opinion, many other astronomers have a solid, yet differing, opinion of what's caused it.

  5. Re:76 planets by aliquis · · Score: 3, Funny

    If you can't hear any noise then surely you shouldn't be able to see any light either.

    Otherwise it would be racist. Social justice for everyone! Equality now!

  6. Re:76 planets by Tukz · · Score: 1

    Don't browse /. while high on meth.

    --
    - Don't do what I do, it's probably not healthy nor safe. -
  7. Re:76 planets by Salgak1 · · Score: 3, Funny

    On Slashdot, no one can hear you banging your head against the wall at some of the truly Burning Stoopid posts. . .

  8. Re:76 planets by invictusvoyd · · Score: 1

    Don't browse /. while high on meth.

    weed is ok

  9. Re:Mondas by Salgak1 · · Score: 1

    Nope. Lemmy.

    We didn't get the element, so we NEED to name the planet. . .

  10. Re:Murder won't be illegal on such a planet by phishybongwaters · · Score: 1

    a few more asshats like you and there will be no more AC posting here, it's inevitable. Well played sir, well played. As well as a racist dickhole douchebag could play anything I suppose.

  11. Re:76 planets by Tukz · · Score: 1

    Obviously, I'd venture to say it's almost an requirement with some of the posts.

    --
    - Don't do what I do, it's probably not healthy nor safe. -
  12. Re: Murder won't be illegal on such a planet by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    Then the racism will come from logged-in users. Obviously you're too young to remember trolls like Ralph JewHater Nader. A lot of the logged-in trolls frequently made racist remarks as part of their shit posting. The only reason it comes from ACs is that logged-in trolls are limited to two posts per day. However, if AC posting is eliminated, I guarantee you'll see logged-in trolls making lots of racist posts. Hell, I've even seen uses who post at +1 or +2 make some pretty racist comments at times. AC posting isn't going away, but even if it did, it wouldn't eliminate the racist trolls. I guess you're just too young to remember all the logged-in trolls that used to frequent Slashdot.

  13. The next four discovered planets must be called by msk · · Score: 1

    . . . Persephone, CaÃna, Antenora, and Ptoleme. . . .

    1. Re:The next four discovered planets must be called by jfdavis668 · · Score: 1

      These two need to be named Tweedledum and Tweedledee

    2. Re:The next four discovered planets must be called by painandgreed · · Score: 1

      What about Mickey and Goofy?

  14. Re:Mondas by invictusvoyd · · Score: 1

    Forget the name , It should be handed over to ISIS . The distance is good.

  15. Re:76 planets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    #BlackPlanetsMatter

  16. Re:76 planets by edittard · · Score: 1

    Don't browse /. while high on meth.

    Note: this does not apply to editing.

    --
    At the bottom of the /. main page it says 'Yesterday's News'. Well they got that right.
  17. Re:Yup, I *got* the memo by edittard · · Score: 1

    Attempt no landings there.

    --
    At the bottom of the /. main page it says 'Yesterday's News'. Well they got that right.
  18. Your Anus is not its real name. by cheekyboy · · Score: 1

    Herschel did not name the planet Uranus, he called it "the Georgium Sidus" (the Georgian Planet) in honor of King George III of England.

    Though they should build two more new probes, identical and send one to uranus and one to neptune.

    Common whats 4-6 billion dollars, a weeks military budget.

    Just print so more fuking money retards, or ask bill gates to pay for it or bloody just bill it to Apple, since they pay no taxes

    --
    Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
    1. Re:Your Anus is not its real name. by plopez · · Score: 2

      you could name one probe "catheter" and the other "colonoscopy".

      --
      putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
  19. Re:Mondas by K.+S.+Kyosuke · · Score: 1

    Rupert, obviously.

    --
    Ezekiel 23:20
  20. Re:76 planets by cheekyboy · · Score: 1

    1. the sun
    2. stars during eclipse
    3. stars from the space station
    4. a super nova
    5. long exposure with blue filter
    6. the moons light came from the sun

    --
    Liberty freedom are no1, not dicks in suits.
  21. Mystery Planets? by rossdee · · Score: 1

    Never mind the Mystery and Thriller planets, I want to see the Science Fiction and Fantasy planets

    1. Re:Mystery Planets? by painandgreed · · Score: 1

      We need a Forbidden Planet.

  22. Meddling kids... by jfdavis668 · · Score: 1

    These planets would have never been found, if it weren't for you meddling kids.

  23. Re:76 planets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    #BlackMatterPlanets ?

  24. Do-over for the high school textbooks by codeButcher · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Don't know about others, but I do not think amending textbooks (science, at least) is a bad thing. Being in school in 2017-2027 and reading something along the lines of "these planets where only discovered in 2016" would go a long way to get me interested in a STEM career.

    --
    Free, as in your money being freed from the confines of your account.
    1. Re:Do-over for the high school textbooks by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      Because finding the thousands of exoplanets isn't interesting enough?

  25. Oops... by drew_92123 · · Score: 1

    Sorry for the false alarm guys, seems they accidentally forgot to take into account the gravitational pull of my nuts. ;-)

    1. Re:Oops... by CanadianMacFan · · Score: 1

      Yes, but they took into account the vacuum where your brain is supposed to be so it's more than balanced out.

  26. Obligatory Psych reference by Yvan256 · · Score: 1
  27. Planet 9 from Outer Space! by jenningsthecat · · Score: 1

    Where's Ed Wood when we need him?

    --
    'The Economy' is a giant Ponzi scheme whose most pitiable suckers are the youngest among us and the yet-unborn.
  28. Re:76 planets by plopez · · Score: 1

    I hope this was a woosh

    --
    putting the 'B' in LGBTQ+
  29. Re: 76 planets by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

    During the lunar day, yes. Perhaps it escaped your notice that there's this bright thing called the Sun who's brightness makes in impossible to see stars. Perhaps its also escaped your notice that the Sun shines I n the lunar daytime sky as well. Furthermore the presence or absence of an atmosphere has no effect in this phenomenon.

  30. Re:76 planets by Coren22 · · Score: 1

    Some already post from the loony bin...such as a three letter name found in my signature.

    --
    APK likes to ask for responses to the same things over and over. Maybe he just likes the responses?
  31. Re:Murder won't be illegal on such a planet by Dogtanian · · Score: 1

    a few more asshats like you and there will be no more AC posting here, it's inevitable

    Unlikely, unless Slashdot's new owners take a significantly different approach.

    I've been here since 2002, and there's pretty much always been racist trolling from ACs; if anything, it seemed to be slightly higher in the past.

    --
    "Slashdot - News and Chat Sites Deviant". (Click "homepage" link above for details).
  32. Ancient cultures depicted 12 planets. by master_p · · Score: 1

    Almost all ancient cultures depicted a solar system of 12 planets. Early civilizations like the Sumerians considered the planets to be Gods, which later transpired to the Greek Dodecatheon (12 gods) and the 12 disciples of Jesus.

    It is quite surprising to me that we can't detect these bodies. It is ok not to detect them on visible light, but what about the infrared? IRAS was supposed to have discovered a large planetary body at the border of our solar system in 1982. Shouldn't we have ten times better infrared telescopes today?