We could have nine planets after all

[PopeyesPappy]

It seems our solar system may have another planet with the equivalent of 10 Earth masses in a highly elliptical orbit 10 to 20 thousand year orbit way out past ex-planet Pluto.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/science/space/ninth-planet-solar-system-beyond-pluto.html?_r=0

[Solomon Zorn]

They never mentioned it in Star Trek, and I'm sure they would have seen it up there, so I'm going to have to conclude that it doesn't exist.

[Baruch]

That might explain the disruption of the Oort Cloud.

[SGOS]

Ozone is destroying the Ort Cloud.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Ozone is destroying the Ort Cloud.

Nah, illegal immigrants doin' that. We need to build a wall.

[Baruch]

Nah, illegal immigrants doin' that. We need to build a wall.

They have them on sale down at Wall-Mart ;-)

[Mr.Obvious]

The important thing here, ladies and gentlemen, is how this influences astrological horoscope-readings.

[josephpalazzo]

It seems our solar system may have another planet with the equivalent of 10 Earth masses in a highly elliptical orbit 10 to 20 thousand year orbit way out past ex-planet Pluto.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/01/21/science/space/ninth-planet-solar-system-beyond-pluto.html?_r=0

Great story, thanks.

Here's an illustration of its possible orbit, and its size relative to the solar system:

http://www.sciencemag.org/sites/default/files/styles/inline_colwidth__4_3/public/images/Orbits_1280_PlanetX2.jpg?itok=1wE6ahlP

[Shiranu]

That's no planet... that's a space station...

[Solomon Zorn]

Very interesting theory though. I hope they locate it. I bet this kind of thing frustrates the hell out of the science-hating zealots.

[Atheon]

Cool, a possible tenth planet after the nine known ones.

Dammit, Janet, Pluto's a planet.

[SGOS]

Dammit, Janet, Pluto's a planet.

Hear, Hear!  This latest nonsense about Pluto is pure sensationalism.

[stromboli]

Hear, Hear!  This latest nonsense about Pluto is pure sensationalism.

So first they disown Pluto which has been a planet since I was born and then cough up a "probable" substitute to replace it? Sorry, ain't buying it. I'll believe it when they provide evidence it exists.

[SGOS]

So first they disown Pluto which has been a planet since I was born

It was also the most loveable planet.

[PopeyesPappy]

So first they disown Pluto which has been a planet since I was born and then cough up a "probable" substitute to replace it? Sorry, ain't buying it. I'll believe it when they provide evidence it exists.

They have evidence that it exists now in the form of the gravitational effects it exerts on other objects. It has cleared it's orbital area. That's one of the requirements for an object to meet the current definition of planet. That's not the same as direct observation, but it is some of the same kind of evidence we have for the existence of dark matter or the super massive black hole at the heart of our galaxy.

Here is the image that Joseph linked earlier.