Pluto-like planet discovered: How big is it and how far is it from Earth?
In a significant breakthrough, astronomers have detected a
Pluto-like planet
situated far beyond the known boundaries of the solar system. Identified as
2017 OF201
, the icy celestial body may represent the largest object discovered in the outer solar system in over a decade, reigniting interest in the unexplored expanses beyond Neptune.
Pluto Like Planet With an Extraordinary Orbit
Classified as an
extreme trans-Neptunian object
(TNO), 2017 OF201 is believed to be around 700 kilometers (435 miles) in diameter—about half the size of Pluto. Though smaller than the famous dwarf planet, its location and orbital characteristics have startled researchers. The object's aphelion, or farthest distance from the Sun, is more than 1,600 times Earth's orbital distance, while its perihelion, the nearest point to the Sun, is roughly 44.5 times that of Earth—comparable to Pluto's orbital reach.
'This suggests a highly elliptical and unusual orbit,' noted Dr. Sihao Cheng from the Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton, which led the discovery, as mentioned in a report by Forbes.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Beckham Swapped Heels. Walked More. Noticed The Difference.
dailybuzzreport
Try Now
Undo
The planet takes approximately 25,000 years to complete one revolution around the Sun, hinting at a dramatic cosmic history.
A Decade's Largest Solar System Discovery
Discovered using a combination of data from the Dark Energy Camera in Chile and the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the celestial body was captured over seven years and 19 different exposures. Astronomers suggest that if the object's size is verified via radio telescopes, it will earn the title of the largest newly discovered planetary body in the outer solar system since the early 2010s.
Live Events
2017 OF201 joins a short but significant list of massive TNOs, which includes Eris, Pluto, Haumea, Makemake, and Gonggong. It further challenges previous assumptions about the sparsity of large bodies in the far-flung regions of the solar system.
Possibly Ejected from the Oort Cloud
According to the researchers, the extreme orbit of 2017 OF201 suggests a tumultuous past. It may have been gravitationally ejected by one of the gas giants early in solar system history, potentially reaching the Oort Cloud—a distant shell believed to host countless icy bodies—before being pulled back inward.
'This is a classic case of a planetary body that didn't just form where it now resides. Its path tells the story of encounters, ejections, and returns,' said Dr. Yifan Yang, a collaborator on the study, as mentioned in a report by Forbes..
Solar System May Host Hundreds More
The
Kuiper Belt
, the donut-shaped region beyond Neptune, was once thought to be relatively empty. However, the discovery of 2017 OF201 raises fresh questions about what lies beyond.
'The fact that 2017 OF201 was detectable while spending just 1% of its orbital period near the inner solar system implies that there could be hundreds of similar-sized objects we simply haven't detected yet,' Dr. Cheng added.
A Renewed Push for Outer Solar System Exploration
This discovery provides renewed impetus for studying the Pluto-like planet category and the solar system's unexplored boundaries. It may also guide future missions akin to NASA's
New Horizons
, which flew past Pluto in 2015 before entering deeper Kuiper Belt territory.
Astronomers emphasize that while humanity has explored deep space with cutting-edge instruments, the very edges of our own cosmic neighborhood remain largely uncharted territory.
FAQs
What is 2017 OF201?
2017 OF201 is an icy, Pluto-like celestial body classified as an extreme trans-Neptunian object (TNO). It was recently discovered in the far outer regions of the solar system and could be the largest such object found in over a decade.
How big is 2017 OF201?
The object is estimated to be around 700 kilometers (435 miles) in diameter, which is approximately half the size of Pluto.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
New study suggests fungi are more complex than experts thought
Visakhapatnam: Dr Belle Damodara Shenoy, principal scientist at the CSIR-National Institute of Oceanography Regional Centre, Visakhapatnam, has a new publication on rethinking the 'new' in fungal species. The study stressed the importance of equitable global access to molecular technologies and infrastructural resources, particularly in biodiverse, yet under-resourced regions such as India. This will help foster broad engagement in fungal systematics and ensuring more comprehensive biodiversity assessment and conservation efforts. According to Dr Shenoy, an illustrative example is the colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex. Once regarded as a single, widely distributed pathogen, it has now been split into multiple genetically distinct species. The study shows how molecular tools revealed species such as C. asianum, C. fructicola and C. siamense, which were previously grouped under one name because of their similar appearance. "As we confront biodiversity loss and climate uncertainty, understanding fungi—the hidden engineers of ecosystems—has never been more critical," Dr Shenoy noted, calling for equitable access to subsequent technologies, regional bioinformatics hubs and collaborative research models that include scientists from the global south. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Play Chess on Your PC, Free Play Classic Chess Install Now Undo Published in Mycological Spectrum, the official journal of the Association of Fungal Biologists (AFB), Dr Shenoy's article examines what constitutes a species in an era defined by genetic sequencing and asks whether the term 'new species' carries the same weight today as it once did. "The discovery of fungal species has outpaced our tools for accurately defining them. Historically, fungi were classified on observable traits—spore structure, growth patterns, pigmentation. But these morphological methods are no longer sufficient. Advances in molecular biology, particularly DNA bar coding using the internal transcribed spacer region, have upended traditional taxonomy. Researchers now use techniques such as genealogical concordance phylogenetic species recognition and coalescent-based models to uncover hidden, cryptic diversity," said the NIO principal scientist. "The pendulum may be swinging too far in the other direction. With a surge in DNA-based identifications, there is growing concern over taxonomic inflation—where minor genetic differences are mistaken for species-level divergences. A species is what a fungal taxonomist says it is; subjectivity remains inherent in the process," he added. Coalescent-based methods offer a statistical remedy by modelling gene flow and population divergence, but they demand computational power and bioinformatics expertise that are often unavailable in biodiversity-rich yet resource-poor regions. What is the way forward? Dr Shenoy advocates an integrative, eco-evolutionary approach—fusing molecular data with ecological context and classical morphology. This holistic method promises more robust, meaningful species classifications and deepens understanding of fungal biodiversity, with implications for agriculture, medicine and conservation. "The challenge, however, is accessibility. Countries like India—home to immense fungal diversity—often lack the infrastructure and training needed to participate fully in this genomic era of taxonomy. There must be equitable access to sequencing technologies, regional bioinformatics hubs and collaborative research models that include scientists from the global south," Dr Shenoy added.
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Bid to provide quality edu for govt school students: Revanth
Hyerabad: In a major step towards transforming education in govt schools, the Telangana govt has signed MoUs with six leading NGOs, to provide free AI-powered learning tools and competitive exam coaching to govt school students. Backed by chief minister A Revanth Reddy, the initiative aims to enhance access to quality education through technology-driven solutions. Transformative change "This initiative is part of the state govt's vision to enhance access to quality education for underprivileged students. By partnering with reputed organisations, we hope to bring about transformative change in education. We are laying the foundation for a knowledge-driven future," he said. " These partnerships reflect our commitment to ensuring that no child is left behind in this digital age . The govt firmly believes that collaborating with India's leading educational organisations will bring about a revolutionary improvement in educational standards both within the state and across the country," he added. Under the agreement, the EkStep Foundation will expand its AI-driven learning platform from 540 schools to more than 5,000 primary schools across all 33 districts. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với sàn môi giới tin cậy IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo The platform offers multilingual foundational learning in Telugu, English and Mathematics for pupils in Classes 3 to 5. Physics Wallah will provide free, high-quality coaching for competitive examinations including NEET, JEE, and CLAT to govt students at the Intermediate level, with an emphasis on early preparation during school years. Khan Academy will deliver curriculum-aligned, video-based instruction in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) subjects for classes 6 to 10, enabling students to learn at their own pace. Coding training The Prajwala Foundation will implement comprehensive child safety and protection programmes aimed at students from classes 6 to 12. The Pi Jam Foundation will offer training in coding and computational thinking for students in classes 1 to 10, fostering digital literacy and problem-solving skills from an early age. Educate Girls, which has already facilitated the enrolment of over 16,000 out-of-school children in Telangana, will focus on improving literacy among girls.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
'Neuralink babies'? Scale AI's Alexandr Wang says he is waiting for Elon Musk's brain chips before having kids
In a statement that straddles science fiction and near-future reality, Scale AI founder Alexandr Wang has revealed he's putting off parenthood—for now. But not because of career demands or personal timing. His reason? He's waiting for Elon Musk 's Neuralink to become mainstream. Yes, Wang wants his future children to be among the first humans enhanced by brain-computer interfaces from birth. During a recent appearance on The Shawn Ryan Show , the 28-year-old tech prodigy shared a vision that feels pulled from the pages of a futuristic novel. 'When we get Neuralink and we get these other technologies, kids who are born with them are gonna learn how to use them in like crazy, crazy ways,' Wang said, explaining that the first seven years of life—when neuroplasticity is at its peak—present the most fertile ground for integrating superintelligence into the human experience. Neuralink, Meet Nature Neuralink, founded by Elon Musk, is currently trialing a brain-chip implant the size of a coin. Though still in early clinical stages, the device has already shown stunning potential: one patient with ALS reportedly edited a video using only his mind. But Neuralink isn't alone. Synchron, backed by heavyweights like Jeff Bezos and Bill Gates, is collaborating with Apple to help patients with disabilities use iPhones through brain signals. Motif Neurotech, another contender, is developing a neurostimulator that treats severe depression and functions like a pacemaker for the brain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting Luxeartisanship Buy Now Undo Wang, who is also taking on a new role at Meta to lead its superintelligence initiatives, seems to believe these brain-machine hybrids are not just medical miracles—they are the future of human learning, cognition, and possibly even evolution. Born to Compute? His vision hinges on a well-documented trait: the astonishing neuroplasticity of young brains. A 2009 study published in Brain Dev. found that children's brains, particularly in the early years, are primed for adaptation. This plasticity not only helps kids learn languages or recover from injury but, in Wang's vision, could also help them learn how to "think" alongside or even through artificial intelligence. It's a radical idea—one that flips the conventional approach to parenting. Instead of shielding children from screen time or tech overload, Wang imagines a future where babies are born wired for the digital age, quite literally. Ethics, Science, and the Silicon Valley Dream As startling as Wang's perspective may seem, it's emblematic of a growing mindset in tech circles: that human limitations are solvable problems. But while Wang may be planning for AI-enhanced progeny, ethical concerns continue to hover over Neuralink and its competitors—from long-term brain health to consent, privacy, and the ever-blurring boundary between human and machine. Still, in a world racing toward a post-human horizon, Alexandr Wang's statement isn't just provocative—it might be prophetic. The question isn't whether Neuralink babies will happen. It's who dares to go first. And Wang, it seems, is ready to raise the world's first AI-native child—as soon as the software is ready.
