'It'll have many secrets': Can a new telescope finally reveal Planet Nine, the holy grail of our solar system

Produced by: BT Desk Designed by: Manoj Kumar

 Icy giant

Planet Nine, a massive icy world, may be lurking at the outer edge of our solar system, awaiting discovery by advanced telescopes. "It's really difficult to explain the solar system without Planet Nine," says Caltech astronomer Mike Brown.

Hidden planet

Despite predictions, Planet Nine remains elusive, but a powerful new telescope set to launch soon could finally reveal its location. Brown adds, "There's no way to be 100% sure [it exists] until you see it."

Gravitational mystery

The unusual orbits of trans-Neptunian objects suggest a hidden planet, with gravitational forces hinting at something massive beyond Neptune. "Planet Nine's pull is hard to ignore," Brown notes.

Orbit clues

Astronomers have observed strange kinks in the orbits of objects far beyond Neptune, pointing toward the possible existence of Planet Nine. "These orbits don’t make sense without Planet Nine," says Brown.

Final search

The upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory is expected to finally end the search for Planet Nine by either finding it or ruling it out for good. "We can't be sure until we see it," Brown emphasizes.

Size estimate

If Planet Nine exists, it could be seven times more massive than Earth and have an orbit so distant that it takes thousands of years to circle the sun. "The numbers suggest a huge hidden world," says Brown.

Cosmic enigma

The existence of Planet Nine could rewrite our understanding of the solar system's formation and evolution, revealing long-hidden secrets. "It’s difficult to imagine the solar system without it," says Brown.

Distant orbit

With a likely orbit 500 times farther from the sun than Earth, Planet Nine could be hiding in the far reaches of the solar system. "It's out there, but far away," says Brown.

Discovery race

Astronomers are racing to locate Planet Nine before skepticism grows, with upcoming powerful telescopes expected to provide definitive answers. "Until we see it, we can't be sure," Brown cautions.