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IDemo

(16,926 posts)
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 12:20 PM Jan 2016

Researchers discover 'Planet Nine'

Source: USA Today

Caltech researchers say they have found evidence of a giant planet tracing a "bizarre, highly elongated orbit in the outer solar system."

Dubbed Planet Nine, it has a mass about 10 times that of Earth and orbits about 20 times farther from the sun on average than does distant Neptune. The researchers say it would take Planet Nine up to 20,000 years to orbit the sun.

"This would be a real ninth planet," said researcher Mike Brown, the Richard and Barbara Rosenberg professor of planetary astronomy. "There have only been two true planets discovered since ancient times, and this would be a third. It's a pretty substantial chunk of our solar system that's still out there to be found, which is pretty exciting."

Brown says the planet has 5,000 times the mass of Pluto and is so big there should be no debate about whether it is a true planet.

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2016/01/20/researchers-discover-planet-nine/79056118/



Apparently, Pluto remains a 'non-planet'.
59 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Researchers discover 'Planet Nine' (Original Post) IDemo Jan 2016 OP
Good-bye Pluto HERVEPA Jan 2016 #1
Hey, "Planet X" is real after all! E-Z-B Jan 2016 #2
Duck Dodgers finds Planet X hobbit709 Jan 2016 #4
Garibaldi's second favorite thing in the universe Babel_17 Jan 2016 #25
Or is it Planet Claire? JudyM Jan 2016 #33
I use the start of that as my ringtone Tab Jan 2016 #35
Ha, that's great! JudyM Jan 2016 #41
Screw that. malthaussen Jan 2016 #3
Mondas! MowCowWhoHow III Jan 2016 #5
nibiru the destructor saturnsring Jan 2016 #6
Why would it be named after a Babylonian god meaning the "Crossing"??? happyslug Jan 2016 #48
Zecharia Sitchin and Sumer Zecharia Sitchin Although Lieder originally referred to the object as "P saturnsring Jan 2016 #49
Believers in Planet X/Nibiru have given it many names since it was first proposed. All are, in fact, saturnsring Jan 2016 #50
Newly discovered planet to be named ‘Barry’ T_i_B Jan 2016 #59
I was just thinking more along the lines of "Grand Galactic Inquisitor" kentauros Jan 2016 #52
When are we going? REAL SOON! Orrex Jan 2016 #7
If it keeps me away from Earth for 20,000 years, I'm in Blue_Adept Jan 2016 #8
No matter where you go, Bayard Jan 2016 #21
The man's been through solid matter, for crying out loud. Who knows what's happened to his brain? Babel_17 Jan 2016 #27
Laugh while you can, monkey boy! Dr. Strange Jan 2016 #34
Another crazy thing to keep track of i would guess......... nolabels Jan 2016 #9
amazing how little we still know about our own solar system MariaThinks Jan 2016 #10
+1 jonno99 Jan 2016 #11
Well, if it took 20,000 years to orbit the sun... -none Jan 2016 #12
It is kind of a big place... Blue_Tires Jan 2016 #18
Yuggoth.... Spitfire of ATJ Jan 2016 #13
I for one salute our trans-dimensional fungoid masters. Orrex Jan 2016 #22
Very cool! blackspade Jan 2016 #14
Apparently it is now a dwarf planet KamaAina Jan 2016 #28
Astronomers terrified after huge new planet turns out to be Pluto’s dad T_i_B Jan 2016 #58
Fully armed and operational. BadgerKid Jan 2016 #15
We are throwing Pluto under the bus for this? No way! yellowcanine Jan 2016 #16
Have any MileniumFalcons been seen in the area? Hoppy Jan 2016 #17
Heheheh sakabatou Jan 2016 #19
No way. PLUTO is #9, making this thing Planet Ten. Paging Buckaroo Banzai, come in, Buckaroo.... TygrBright Jan 2016 #20
A message just came in from Planet 9: Kingofalldems Jan 2016 #23
Can we call it Z'ha'dum? Babel_17 Jan 2016 #24
Hey! I attend school there! Great news for Caltech! JonLeibowitz Jan 2016 #26
Link to BBC nitpicker Jan 2016 #29
Plan 9 from Outer Space???!!!!!! jpak Jan 2016 #30
What, you're gonna trust the guy who murdered Pluto? Eric the Drunk Jan 2016 #31
"Murdered Pluto"? Over-dramatic much? arcane1 Jan 2016 #32
Geez, get over it. Odin2005 Jan 2016 #37
NEVER! Eric the Drunk Jan 2016 #38
Thought this was BS until I saw that one of the researchers is Mikw Brown... Odin2005 Jan 2016 #36
Nobody's seen this planet yet, so I wouldn't get too excited frizzled Jan 2016 #39
The perturbations of the orbits... we are always finding new planetary bodies Baclava Jan 2016 #40
Just how big is "5,000 times the mass of Pluto?" Reter Jan 2016 #42
Actually, it would Tab Jan 2016 #44
'The planet is thought to be gaseous, similar to Uranus and Neptune' Baclava Jan 2016 #46
If it exists, it is probably a rogue planet trapped by our sun. roamer65 Jan 2016 #56
More likely an outer planet that was thrown out there from our early solar system Baclava Jan 2016 #57
Is this what they called sedna? DonCoquixote Jan 2016 #43
Yes Tab Jan 2016 #45
From what I have read NO, Sedna is another solar object. happyslug Jan 2016 #54
I met the man who discovered Pluto, Dr. Clyde Tombaugh tabasco Jan 2016 #47
Coincidence? I think not... Blue_Tires Jan 2016 #51
Let me know when they find Planet 10 Kelvin Mace Jan 2016 #53
Wonder what is its magnitude? I would guess 20-22? BlueJazz Jan 2016 #55

JudyM

(29,236 posts)
41. Ha, that's great!
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 10:47 PM
Jan 2016

Fun crazy dancing memories from back then! Jumping up and down like we were looney.

 

happyslug

(14,779 posts)
48. Why would it be named after a Babylonian god meaning the "Crossing"???
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 06:53 PM
Jan 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nibiru_(Babylonian_astronomy)

Nibiru (also transliterated Neberu, Nebiru) is a term in the Akkadian language, translating to "crossing" or "point of transition", especially of rivers,[1] i.e. river crossings or ferry-boats. In Babylonian astronomy, Nibiru (in cuneiform spelled dné-bé-ru or MULni-bi-rum) is a term of the equinox and its associated astronomical object(s).
 

saturnsring

(1,832 posts)
49. Zecharia Sitchin and Sumer Zecharia Sitchin Although Lieder originally referred to the object as "P
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 06:58 PM
Jan 2016

Zecharia Sitchin and Sumer
Zecharia Sitchin

Although Lieder originally referred to the object as "Planet X", it has become deeply associated with Nibiru, a planet from the works of ancient astronaut proponent Zecharia Sitchin, particularly his book The 12th Planet. According to Sitchin's interpretation of Babylonian religious texts, which contradicts conclusions reached by credited scholars on the subject,[24][25] a giant planet (called Nibiru or Marduk) passes by Earth every 3,600 years and allows its sentient inhabitants to interact with humanity. These beings, which Sitchin identified with the Annunaki of Sumerian myth, would become humanity's first gods.[26] Lieder first made the connection between Nibiru and her Planet X on her site in 1996 ("Planet X does exist, and it is the 12th Planet, one and the same.&quot .[27]

However, Sitchin, who died in 2010, denied any connection between his work and Lieder's claims. In 2007, partly in response to Lieder's proclamations, Sitchin published a book, The End of Days, which set the time for the last passing of Nibiru by Earth at 556 BC, which would mean, given the object's supposed 3,600-year orbit, that it would return sometime around AD 2900.[28] He did however say that he believed that the Annunaki might return earlier by spaceship, and that the timing of their return would coincide with the shift from the astrological Age of Pisces to the Age of Aquarius, sometime between 2090 and 2370.[29]

 

saturnsring

(1,832 posts)
50. Believers in Planet X/Nibiru have given it many names since it was first proposed. All are, in fact,
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 07:01 PM
Jan 2016

Believers in Planet X/Nibiru have given it many names since it was first proposed. All are, in fact, names for other real, hypothetical or imaginary Solar System objects that bear little resemblance to Nibiru as described by Lieder or Sitchin.

T_i_B

(14,737 posts)
59. Newly discovered planet to be named ‘Barry’
Fri Jan 22, 2016, 08:17 AM
Jan 2016

I first heard about "planet niniburu" in a particularly odd leaflet from a conspiracy theorist in 2003!

http://newsthump.com/2016/01/22/newly-discovered-planet-to-be-named-barry/

It has been announced that the new theoretical ninth planet will be named ‘Barry’ should its existence be proved.

“It is an unusual name for a planet, yes,” said Simon Williams, of the International Astronomical Union. “I’d have gone with Trident, Excelsior…or Simon. But we had a lottery in the office to name it, and Barry won.”

Barry the planet is still only theoretical and has prompted a stampede of stargazers to try and positively identify it in the sky with many claims of identification turning out to be, on closer examination, fake; a speck of dust, the Moon, a circle drawn in biro, a dog, someone throwing a tennis ball in the air, and even someone’s wife’s head.

There have also been lucrative offers from corporations to sponsor the new planet which could see planet Barry’s official title be ‘Planet Barry as brought to you by Cillit Bang,’ or simply ‘Planet Cillit Bang.’

Babel_17

(5,400 posts)
27. The man's been through solid matter, for crying out loud. Who knows what's happened to his brain?
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 03:45 PM
Jan 2016

MariaThinks

(2,495 posts)
10. amazing how little we still know about our own solar system
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 12:39 PM
Jan 2016

to be able to find another planet of that size what was completely unknown to us previously

-none

(1,884 posts)
12. Well, if it took 20,000 years to orbit the sun...
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 12:46 PM
Jan 2016

The last time this planet was in view, telescopes were so crude as to be non-existent.

 

KamaAina

(78,249 posts)
28. Apparently it is now a dwarf planet
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 03:56 PM
Jan 2016
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pluto

Pluto (minor-planet designation: 134340 Pluto) is a dwarf planet in the Kuiper belt, a ring of bodies beyond Neptune. It was the first Kuiper belt object to be discovered. It is the largest and second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the ninth-largest and tenth-most-massive known object directly orbiting the Sun. It is the largest known trans-Neptunian object by volume but is less massive than Eris, a dwarf planet in the scattered disc.


Planets of short stature demand to be called "little planets".

T_i_B

(14,737 posts)
58. Astronomers terrified after huge new planet turns out to be Pluto’s dad
Fri Jan 22, 2016, 04:01 AM
Jan 2016
http://newsthump.com/2016/01/21/astronomers-terrified-after-huge-new-planet-turns-out-to-be-plutos-dad/

A huge new ‘9th planet’ discovered at the edge of the solar system is Pluto’s dad and has come to ask why we upset his kid.

The planet, reported to be 5000 times bigger than Pluto, would like a word about why humans made his son cry by downgrading him from ‘planet’.

Astronomers are reported to be ‘crapping themselves’ after ignoring Pluto’s threats to get his dad on them when they downgraded him in 2006. “Pluto was a titch so we didn’t think there’d be any problem throwing him out of the solar system”, said Astonomer Simon Williams.

“Although I will admit that giving him a Chinese burn and calling him a ‘willy-wufter’ when we did so might have been overly harsh."

TygrBright

(20,759 posts)
20. No way. PLUTO is #9, making this thing Planet Ten. Paging Buckaroo Banzai, come in, Buckaroo....
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 01:53 PM
Jan 2016

Hopefully John Emdahl remains in charge there.

amusedly,
Bright

 

Eric the Drunk

(14 posts)
31. What, you're gonna trust the guy who murdered Pluto?
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 05:39 PM
Jan 2016

I hope this turns out to be horseshit, thus discrediting Brown, a well-deserved punishment!

 

arcane1

(38,613 posts)
32. "Murdered Pluto"? Over-dramatic much?
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 05:55 PM
Jan 2016

I bet you would've been quite entertaining back during the "moon-bombing"

Odin2005

(53,521 posts)
36. Thought this was BS until I saw that one of the researchers is Mikw Brown...
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 08:16 PM
Jan 2016

...who is the guy who discovered Eris and Sedna as was the big force behind Pluto's demotion.

This is fucking HUGE!!!

 

Baclava

(12,047 posts)
40. The perturbations of the orbits... we are always finding new planetary bodies
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 09:32 PM
Jan 2016

Don't be alarmed...we still don't know everything out there

Gravitational Perturbations
and the Prediction of New Planets


http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/history/perturbations.html


If the evidence supports it, science moves on

 

Reter

(2,188 posts)
42. Just how big is "5,000 times the mass of Pluto?"
Wed Jan 20, 2016, 11:49 PM
Jan 2016

Would that be like a Neptune-type sized planet?

Tab

(11,093 posts)
44. Actually, it would
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 05:14 AM
Jan 2016

one of the "planetary requirements" is that it dominates its orbiting neighborhood, which apparently this does, but Pluto never did.

roamer65

(36,745 posts)
56. If it exists, it is probably a rogue planet trapped by our sun.
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 09:03 PM
Jan 2016

A long dead star that could not gravitationally retain it or it was ejected Sol may have picked it up somewhere over the years.

 

Baclava

(12,047 posts)
57. More likely an outer planet that was thrown out there from our early solar system
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 11:23 PM
Jan 2016

Before the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn stabilized

Tab

(11,093 posts)
45. Yes
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 05:16 AM
Jan 2016

It's orbital impact has been observed, except it's so far away (four times the distance to Pluto) that it's never been in telescopic reach.

 

happyslug

(14,779 posts)
54. From what I have read NO, Sedna is another solar object.
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 07:33 PM
Jan 2016

Last edited Fri Jan 22, 2016, 02:17 AM - Edit history (1)

Sedna is:

The discovery of Sedna resurrected the question of which astronomical objects should be considered planets and which should not. On March 15, 2004, articles on Sedna in the popular press reported that a tenth planet had been discovered. This question was answered under the International Astronomical Union definition of a planet, adopted on August 24, 2006, which mandated that a planet must have cleared the neighborhood around its orbit. Sedna has a Stern–Levison parameter estimated to be much less than 1,[f] and therefore cannot be considered to have cleared the neighborhood, even though no other objects have yet been discovered in its vicinity. To be a dwarf planet, Sedna must be in hydrostatic equilibrium. It is bright enough, and therefore large enough, that this is expected to be the case,[61] and several astronomers have called it one.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/90377_Sedna


While Sedna has NOT been defined as a "Dwarf Planet", as that term is used to defined Pluto and Ceres, that is what most people think Sedna is.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_possible_dwarf_planets

Sedna is sometimes called a "Minor Planet" a term officially abolished in 2002 but still in use:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Minor_planet
 

tabasco

(22,974 posts)
47. I met the man who discovered Pluto, Dr. Clyde Tombaugh
Thu Jan 21, 2016, 01:01 PM
Jan 2016

What a great guy he was. I was disappointed when they downgraded Pluto.

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