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A previously unknown giant planet may have been discovered lurking in the outer reaches of our solar system, US scientists announced on Wednesday.
Nicknamed Planet Nine, the object “has a mass about 10 times that of Earth” and follows a “bizarre, highly elongated orbit in the distant solar system,” said a statement by researchers at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech).
In fact, it would take this new planet between 10,000 and 20,000 years to make just one full orbit around the Sun.
The report was published in the Astronomical Journal.
Researchers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown say have not yet observed the object directly.
Rather, they found it through mathematical modeling and computer simulations.
The presumed planet has about 5,000 times the mass of Pluto, and scientists believe its gravity has affected the motion of dwarf planets in the outer solar system, essentially perturbing celestial bodies in the field of icy objects and debris beyond Neptune known as the Kuiper Belt. CalTech explained in a statement.
Like a parent maintaining the arc of a child on a swing with periodic pushes, Planet Nine nudges the orbits of distant Kuiper Belt objects such that their configuration with relation to the planet is preserved.
Brown, one of the co-authors on the paper, was a leading force in the downgrade of Pluto from planet to dwarf planet in 2006.
He and colleagues had found a dwarf planet called Eris that was more massive than Pluto, and a potential candidate for a 10th planet.
But when the International Astronomical Union decided in 2006, to issue a new definition of “planet,” neither Eris nor Pluto made the cut.
“OK, OK, I am now willing to admit,” said Brown, who goes by @plutokiller on Twitter.
“I DO believe that the solar system has nine planets.”
But how could astronomers go so long without realising another planet was out there?
Brown and colleagues say Planet Nine could have been cast off during the early formation of the solar system, when four major cores grabbed up the gas around them and formed Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.
Perhaps Planet Nine represented a fifth core, that may have gotten too close to Jupiter or Saturn and been ejected into its current, distant orbit, said Brown.
A host of powerful telescopes are currently hunting for Planet Nine, including the twin 10-meter telescopes at the W. M. Keck Observatory and the Subaru Telescope on Maunakea in Hawaii.
“Sceptical”
“Although we were initially quite sceptical that this planet could exist, as we continued to investigate its orbit and what it would mean for the outer solar system, we’ve become increasingly convinced that it is out there,” said Batygin, an assistant professor of planetary science.
For the first time in over 150 years, there is solid evidence that the solar system’s planetary census is incomplete.”
Other planets have been discovered by mathematical modeling, including Neptune in 1846.
But not every prediction has led to an actual planet, said Robert Massey, deputy executive director of Royal Astronomical Society in London.
“There have been instances in the past where planets have been predicted… but weren’t found,” he told AFP.
But, he added, the researchers who have published their paper are respected in the science community and their hypothesis is definitely worth following up.
It would be a really exciting thing to find. At the moment it’s simply a prediction.
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I’m so sad to hear this. “The Price is Right” was a staple tv show of my childhood. R.I.P Brucie :(
Nice to see you
@Maurice Wrenn: to see you.. nice :(
@Maurice Wrenn: to see you nice
@Maurice Wrenn: To see you nice.
@Maurice Wrenn: To see you nice!
@Maurice Wrenn: To see you, nice.
If you grew up in the 80′s or 90′s. He was a staple in your weekend viewing. It was a pleasure watching him. Such a great entertainer and legend.
@Nathan Natedog: I grew up in the fifties and sixties and he was my weekend tv then.
The end of a era and a legend R.I.P.
Higher than 89 you say?
He was a good oul entertainer down through the years.
Awwwh. Rest in Peace.
Ah no way. Cool guy. Sorry to see him leave.
Watched him for many years when I was growing up. Absolute legend. RIP Brucey
Thanks for the memories Bruce!
Such an icon of TV. RIP
Nice to see you too see you nice, Brucie. RIP.
89 didn’t he do well!!!
Lovely guy and brilliant showman
Rest in peace
POOR OLE BRUCE. GREAT ENTERTAINER. R.I.P.
My day ruined
He had a good innings and brought many laughs and smiles.
I wonder if he is gone to a higher place or a lower place….higher or lower….higher or lower…#legend R.I.P
always when i see Brucie i think of play your cards right &the spinning cards.i wont be able to get that tune out of my head now. RIp Bruce
Nice to see you
To see you nice
RIP and thanks for the entertainment through the years
See his wife….#didnt he do well # nice
@Paul Mcintyre: and won’t she do well. $$$
Thanks Brucie! Nice to see you…. to see you……..
Definately the End of an Era, he always looked so well for a man of his age, but the Grim Reaper gets us all in the end. May he R.i.P.
:(
Lord Rest Brucie. Thanks for all smiles you gave us!
Brucie – could have made the Rose of Tralee watchable…\•/…
@Fank Pulman: a true compliment!
@Fank Pulman: Possibly, but the Rose of Tralee is an Irish production always only hosted by an Irish presenter, so Bruce could never qualify for consideration.
‘Nice to see you to see nice’ end of a era of one of the greats of British Comedy very few of his vintage left.
One of the great links between the era of Music Hall and modern entertainment has passed away. Truly, one of the outstanding British entertainers of the 20th century. For anyone above the age of 5 in the 1960s ,1970s, 1980s, his presence may not have been FULLY appreciated at the time, but he was huge. In comparison to the talentless dross passing for entertainers today, one can, in hindsight, appreciate that he was the product of an entertainment world, where only the truly talented could succeed.Ní bheidh a leithéid arís ann.
Very sad, RIP.
He had a good innings and great legacy . Who can ask for more ?
Met Bruce at a charity golf event in England when I was a young fella ,, nothing but a cranky old git he was ,, won’t be missing him
@Donal O Cofaigh: Feeling better now you got that off your chest Donal? If you want to see what a cranky old git looks like – take a look in the mirror.
@Donal O Cofaigh: never meet your heroes!
@Donal O Cofaigh: and you sound so nice yourself :)
@Donal O Cofaigh: great showman but i did hear he cud be a b###x
@Donal O Cofaigh: did your mother never reach you the old saying “if you have nothing nice to say, say nothing”
@pats brandon: oh sorry ,, I’m supposed to say he was great ! Up yours pats haha
@Peter Cavey: sorry I should of lied
@Donal O Cofaigh: sounds like you’re turning into him then! His job was to entertain which he did. How he acted in his private life was his own business.
@Donal O Cofaigh: you should learn to speak English
@Donal O Cofaigh: no. You should have kept your opinion to yourself!
One of the best and the last greats on Tv
Boundless energy for decades
Brit favourite as he had no airs or graces
Brucie….doddery or not…. I still loved your corny jokes on Strictly. You are a legend. R.I.P.
Bye Bruce thanks for all the entertainment over the years will miss you r.i.p
Nice to have seen him, seen him. NIIICE. Cheerio Brucie
Any reason why you omitted to mention his knighthood, bestowed in 2011?
A real Gentleman RIP
A great part of my growing up and the cause of countless smiles. Goodbye old friend RIP
He was known as the Guvnor to his peers,and with good reason.Best showman ever I think
RIP Brucie
Truly a great entertainer, many of today’s ‘celebrities’ could learn a lot from his performances.
The quintessential host and all round entertainer, an icon.
RIP Sir.
Great entertainer, never a dull moment. R.I.P.
Was supposedly one of the ‘biggest’ stars on TV -may explain how he bagged a Miss World
89 a great age. Had he hung on a few more months the crack would have been 90.
I’ll have to make a note of that.
Roger Moore, John Hurt and now this. Almost too much to bear
I thought he was lower than 89 or was he higher? RIP Bruce great entertainer.
A consummate professional who lived to a good age. His episode of HIGNFY shows just what a great entertainer he was across a lot of generations.
So sad
“Higher than a 10……..KING” Yes you were Sir
Thanks so much for all the childhood Saturday night laughter..will miss you man…
Here they are they’re so appealing- come on dollies do your dealing…
Was he higher or lower than 89?
Higher ..Lower..
RI Bruce…Cha Cha Chat to you later
Another one bites the dust. Bye
Sad loss rip Bruse
A really nice man.A star for years ,and loved/watched many of his tv shows.RIP Bruce,I know you will get your bonus above.
On of the all-time great TV personalities. RIP
Lets av a look at the old scoreboard
And don’t forget the cuddly toy……
A true gentleman of the screen. May he rest in peace.
Lower, Lower!!!
His performance before 1974 FA cup final is still very funny. RIP Bruce. Generation Game in the 70s was must-see viewing for us lucky enough to have BBC.
RIP Bruce. Never liked him myself but he was always about.
Sad, RIP…
RIP. Great entertainer.
Decent, funny, respectful and at times predictable. But always enjoyed. Didn’t watch “Strictly”. But his longevity was due to his ability to be natural and friendly. Consummate professional and nice fella. Rest in eternal peace. Codladh sámh.
The definition of the word “Entertainer” rip brucie
Great entertainer, RIP Bruce.
Not a bad looking rich wife.
@Pat Troy: Didn’t take you long did it?
@Pat Troy: she’s just lost her partner in life but you know being a t!t was more important to you.
@Deborah Behan: well she’s not.was a miss world.
Nice too see u too see u nice ! …. Rip
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