14 hours ago
Scientists rule out 'Planet X' in most suspected sky regions
Extensive survey with PAN-STARRS1 Telescope
The findings come from a comprehensive survey of the outer solar system using the PAN-STARRS1 telescope in Hawaii. The results were published on the preprint server
Broad search yields hundreds of small celestial bodies
Led by Matthew Holman of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the team conducted one of the most extensive searches to date for distant planetary objects. They identified 692 small celestial bodies, including 23 dwarf planets and 109 newly discovered objects.
No trace of Planet X found
Despite the wide-ranging search, no sign of a large ninth planet was detected. However, the survey significantly narrowed the potential location where Planet X could still exist.
Innovative detection method
The team developed a specialised algorithm to analyze images from 2009 to 2017. The PAN-STARRS1 telescope, typically used to detect fast-moving objects like asteroids, was repurposed to identify slow-moving bodies far from the Sun—those located at 80 AU or more.
By cross-referencing known asteroid paths, the algorithm tracked motion in the distant solar system, but found no evidence of Planet X.
Remaining search area near Milky Way plane
The only region left unexamined is a narrow area near the plane of the Milky Way, which PAN-STARRS1 has not yet surveyed in detail due to the density of stars and dust. This region remains the final candidate for Planet X's possible location.
Background: The Planet X hypothesis
Interest in Planet X surged in 2016 after scientists Konstantin Batygin and Michael Brown proposed its existence. They suggested a Neptune-sized planet orbiting far beyond Pluto, at distances of at least 670 AU from the Sun.
Scientific debate continues
Despite multiple searches, no direct observation of Planet X has been made. This has led some astronomers to question its existence and investigate alternative explanations for the unusual gravitational patterns in the outer solar system.
