New Evidence: Planet 9 Exists with 5 Sigma Confidence Thanks to Trans-Neptunian Objects Study

In recent years, astronomers have been searching for new evidence to support the existence of Planet 9 in our solar system. The latest discovery comes from the study of Trans-Neptunian Objects (TNOs), a population of objects beyond Neptune that has been studied by researchers for decades. A key clue about Planet 9 was first noticed around a decade ago when objects from the Kuiper Belt were found to cluster together at large perihelion distances.

However, the gravitational influence of Neptune disrupts this pattern, leading researchers to focus on studying dynamically stable TNOs like Sedna-type objects while ignoring the unstable ones. In a recent study published on arXiv, a team led by Konstantin Batygin from the California Institute of Technology observed the motions of long-period objects that cross Neptune’s orbit and exhibit irregular trajectories. These objects are dynamically unstable, and Batygin explored two possible scenarios to explain their stability: interactions between the galactic tide and Neptune’s gravitational influence or dynamics induced by the hypothetical Planet 9.

Through detailed calculations and astrophysical simulations, Batygin found that the scenario involving Planet 9 results in a flat distribution of perihelion distances for the objects crossing Neptune, while the model without Planet 9 shows a distribution peaked around 30 AU. After adjusting for observational bias, Batygin’s data strongly supports the existence of Planet 9 at a 5 sigma level of confidence on a scale of 6 AU. This new evidence provides some of the strongest statistical support yet for the presence of Planet 9 in our solar system.

While we do not know exactly where Planet 9 is located in our sky, researchers are hopeful that future observatories such as Vera Rubin will help us locate it. However, there is no guarantee that it will be detected with certainty.

In conclusion, this latest discovery provides strong evidence supporting the existence of Planet 9 in our solar system. The search continues as scientists continue to look for ways to detect this elusive planet in our vast universe.