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Something Big Is Warping Our Outer Solar System (futurity.org)

schwit1 quotes Futurity: The plane of our solar system is warped in the outer reaches of the Kuiper Belt, suggesting the presence of an unknown Mars-to-Earth-mass planetary object far beyond Pluto -- but much closer than Planet Nine. An unknown, unseen "planetary mass object" may lurk in the outer reaches of our solar system, according to new research on the orbits of minor planets.

The object would be different from -- and much closer than -- the so-called Planet Nine, a planet whose existence has yet to be confirmed... "The most likely explanation for our results is that there is some unseen mass," says Kat Volk, a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and lead author of the study in the Astronomical Journal. "According to our calculations, something as massive as Mars would be needed to cause the warp that we measured."

8 of 144 comments (clear)

  1. Spock by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    "Captain, that is definitely a Klingon warp signature."

    Greekgeek :-)

  2. Don't panic... by 93+Escort+Wagon · · Score: 3, Funny

    But it's probably V'Ger.

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  3. Super-massive by PopeRatzo · · Score: 2, Funny

    The plane of our solar system is warped in the outer reaches of the Kuiper Belt, suggesting the presence of an unknown Mars-to-Earth-mass planetary object

    I figured out what's warping the solar system:

    http://static.deathandtaxesmag...

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    1. Re:Super-massive by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Funny

      your a doosh

  4. Must be the Deathstar by gweihir · · Score: 3, Funny

    The Empire obviously decided to park it here and then forgot all about it...

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  5. Re:Not again! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    The planets, they go all the way to eleven!!

  6. Re:Pluto? by I'm+New+Around+Here · · Score: 1, Funny

    Either Neptune has a dick or he doesn't. Stop calling him trans.

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  7. I've finally figured out American politics... by knorthern+knight · · Score: 1, Funny

    The Democrats are a conspiracy to convince people to vote Republican

    The Republicans are a conspiracy to convince people to vote Democrat

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