In a riveting revelation that may reshape our understanding of our solar system, Japanese astronomers propose the existence of an ‘Earth-like’ planet much closer to home than the anticipated Planet Nine. This proposed celestial body, referred to as a Kuiper Belt planet (KBP), is believed to be hiding in the Kuiper Belt, a wide-ranging, doughnut-shaped ring of objects that extends just beyond Neptune’s orbit. The KBP is estimated to be up to three times as massive as Earth, and sits at a distance of 500 astronomical units from the sun, a measurement significantly closer than the hypothetical Planet Nine’s location.

The groundbreaking study, led by Patryk Sofia Lykawka of Kindai University in Osaka, Japan, and Takashi Ito of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Tokyo, suggests that this Earth-like planet could be a surviving primordial planetary body from the early solar system. The Kuiper Belt, known to house millions of icy objects, or trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), is a reservoir of the remnants of our solar system’s formation, composed of mixtures of rock, amorphous carbon, and volatile ices. According to the Japanese team, the peculiar orbits of these TNOs could indicate the existence of this undiscovered planet in the outer solar system.

A New Earth-Like Planet Closer Than Planet Nine?

For several years, astronomers have tantalized us with the idea of a mysterious world in our solar system, famously referred to as Planet Nine. However, a recent revelation from Japanese astronomers suggests the existence of another ‘Earth-like’ planet hiding much closer to home, in the doughnut-shaped Kuiper Belt.

A Closer Look at The Kuiper Belt Planet

The proposed Kuiper Belt planet (KBP), as per the astronomers, is situated up to 500 astronomical units (AU) from the sun — which is 500 times the distance between Earth and the sun, and thus, closer than Planet Nine. The KBP is estimated to be up to three times as massive as Earth. However, its temperatures are likely too frigid to support life as we know it.

The study was spearheaded by Patryk Sofia Lykawka of Kindai University in Osaka, Japan, and Takashi Ito of the National Astronomical Observatory of Japan in Tokyo. The duo predicts the existence of this Earth-like planet in their paper published in The Astronomical Journal.

Trans-Neptunian Objects: Clues to An Undiscovered Planet?

The Kuiper Belt is known to house millions of icy objects, referred to as trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), because they reside beyond Neptune. These TNOs are believed to be remnants of the formation of the solar system and are composed of a mixture of rock, amorphous carbon, and volatile ices like water and methane.

The Japanese research team notes that peculiar orbits of some of these TNOs suggest the presence of an undiscovered planet in the outer solar system. The team’s computer simulations indicate that the hypothetical KBP could be responsible for these peculiar orbits.

The Unseen Influence: Hypothetical Planet or Planet Nine?

While the researchers are careful to note that they are predicting rather than confirming the existence of the KBP, they also emphasize that their proposed planet differs from the already hypothesized Planet Nine, which is believed to be much more massive and situated on a more distant orbit.

Planet Nine was first theorized by experts from Caltech in 2014 when they noticed that the orbits of the most distant TNOs were being disrupted, possibly due to the gravitational pull of a ninth planet. However, the existence of Planet Nine remains uncertain with only circumstantial evidence supporting it.

Takeaways

The discovery of another ‘Earth-like’ planet in our solar system would be a significant breakthrough, potentially reshaping our understanding of the solar system. While the existence of this Kuiper Belt planet is yet to be confirmed, it undoubtedly sparks curiosity and opens up new avenues for exploration and study. Regardless of the outcome, the pursuit of knowledge about our cosmic neighborhood continues to generate fascinating possibilities and theories.