Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Is there another planet? Scientists believe a hidden planet, dubbed Planet Nine, might soon join the official solar system lineup, reigniting intrigue about what’s lurking in the vastness of space.
Seven times Earth: Experts theorize that Planet Nine is a gas or ice giant, approximately seven times the size of Earth, massive enough to qualify as a true planet, not a dwarf.
A $473 million observatory: The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, opening in 2025, boasts the largest digital camera ever built, designed to peer deep into space and potentially spot Planet Nine.
Billions of miles away: The theoretical planet is believed to orbit far beyond Neptune, making it extraordinarily hard to detect due to the faint sunlight it reflects back to Earth.
Mike Brown leads search: Astronomer Mike Brown, known for his work at Caltech, claims, “It’s difficult to explain the solar system without Planet Nine,” but stresses direct observation is essential for confirmation.
Bigger, better tools: The Vera Rubin Observatory’s advanced technology will allow astronomers to scan farther and deeper than ever before, possibly revealing Planet Nine in unprecedented detail.
Rewriting the solar system: If found, Planet Nine could radically change our understanding of planetary formation and the dynamics of the solar system’s outer reaches.
A fresh lens: Previous limitations in technology made spotting this distant planet impossible. The cutting-edge equipment in Chile finally offers the precision needed for such a discovery.
A new era begins: The search for Planet Nine complements recent discoveries, like the largest water reservoir in the universe, showcasing how far technology and curiosity can take us.