At least two as-yet undiscovered
planets as big as Earth or larger may be hiding in the outer fringes of the
Solar System, scientists believe.
The secret worlds are thought to
exist beyond the orbits of Neptune, the furthest true planet from the Sun, and
the even more distant tiny ''dwarf planet'' Pluto.
The evidence comes from
observations of a belt of space rocks known as ''extreme trans-Neptunion
objects'' (Etnos).
Orbiting the Sun beyond Neptune,
Etnos should be distributed randomly with paths that have certain defined
characteristics.
But a dozen of the bodies have
completely unexpected orbital values consistent with them being influenced by
the gravitational pull of something unseen.
Professor Carlos de la Fuente
Marcos, the lead scientist from the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM),
quoted by the Spanish scientific news service (Sinc), said: ''This excess of
objects with unexpected orbital parameters makes us believe that some invisible
forces are altering the distribution of the orbital elements of the Etno, and we
consider that the most probable explanation is that other unknown planets exist
beyond Neptune and Pluto.
''The exact number is uncertain, given that the data that we have is limited, but our calculations suggest that there are at least two planets, and probably more, within the confines of our Solar System.''
Astronomers have spent decades debating whether a hidden planet beyond Pluto remained undiscovered.
''If it is confirmed, our results may be truly revolutionary for astronomy,'' said Prof De La Fuente Marcos.
The new research, published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters, is based on analysis of an effect called the ''Kozai mechanism'', by which a large body disturbs the orbit of a smaller and more distant object.
The scientists wrote: ''In this scenario, a population of stable asteroids may be shepherded by a distant, undiscovered planet larger than the Earth ... ''
One problem is that the theory goes against predictions of computer simulations of the formation of the Solar System, which state there are no other planets moving in circular orbits beyond Neptune.
But the recent discovery of a planet-forming disk of dust and gas more than 100 astronomical units (AU) from the star HL Tauri suggests planets can form long distances away from the centre of a solar system.
An astronomical unit, the distance between the Earth and the Sun, is the equivalent of 93 million miles.
More results based on a larger sample of Etno objects are due to be published in the coming months.
With thanks to the Telegraph UK
''The exact number is uncertain, given that the data that we have is limited, but our calculations suggest that there are at least two planets, and probably more, within the confines of our Solar System.''
Astronomers have spent decades debating whether a hidden planet beyond Pluto remained undiscovered.
''If it is confirmed, our results may be truly revolutionary for astronomy,'' said Prof De La Fuente Marcos.
The new research, published in the journal Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society Letters, is based on analysis of an effect called the ''Kozai mechanism'', by which a large body disturbs the orbit of a smaller and more distant object.
The scientists wrote: ''In this scenario, a population of stable asteroids may be shepherded by a distant, undiscovered planet larger than the Earth ... ''
One problem is that the theory goes against predictions of computer simulations of the formation of the Solar System, which state there are no other planets moving in circular orbits beyond Neptune.
But the recent discovery of a planet-forming disk of dust and gas more than 100 astronomical units (AU) from the star HL Tauri suggests planets can form long distances away from the centre of a solar system.
An astronomical unit, the distance between the Earth and the Sun, is the equivalent of 93 million miles.
More results based on a larger sample of Etno objects are due to be published in the coming months.
With thanks to the Telegraph UK
