‘NASA breakthrough’: Planet X might be real, and it’s bigger than we imagined
Produced by: Manoj Kumar
Cosmic Mystery
Hidden beyond Neptune, Planet X, theorized to be seven times Earth’s mass, challenges astronomers to uncover its existence.
Orbit Clues
Anomalous orbits of Kuiper Belt objects, studied since 2016 by Caltech’s Michael Brown, point to the gravitational pull of an unseen planetary body.
Dim Challenge
Planet X reflects faint sunlight, making it extremely difficult to detect, even with the most advanced telescopes.
Rubin Revolution
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile, with its unprecedented imaging capabilities, is primed to change the game in identifying faint celestial bodies.
Expert Insight
Dr. Ed Bloomer of the Royal Museums Greenwich explains that finding Planet X is akin to locating a faint pixel in the vast expanse of space.
Skeptical Caution
Michael Smith from the University of Kent highlights potential observational biases, urging skepticism and scientific rigor in interpreting findings.
Mathematical Modeling
Theoretical models strongly suggest that Planet X’s gravitational influence explains the clustering of six Kuiper Belt objects.
Technical Hurdles
Locating Planet X involves monitoring vast regions of space for minuscule changes in brightness over time—a painstaking and precise endeavor.
Discovery Impact
Confirming Planet X would redefine our understanding of the solar system, addressing mysteries about its structure and evolution.
Public Fascination
A discovery would captivate the world, joining ranks with Mars missions and James Webb revelations in igniting humanity’s curiosity about the cosmos.