The agency revealed details about a possible new planet, beyond the orbit of Neptune.
The POT took an important step in the exploration of the cosmos by announcing signs of a possible new planet at the limits of the Solar System. This advance, led by Konstantin Batygin of the California Institute of Technology, is based on gravitational evidence that points to the presence of a massive object beyond the orbit of Neptune.
The finding is based on a detailed study of the trajectories of trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs), icy bodies located in regions beyond Neptune. The researchers identified unusual orbital behaviors in these objects, which could not be justified solely by the gravitational influence of the planets currently identified in the Solar System.
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What is the new planet that NASA discovered like?
The hypothetical planet would have an estimated mass between five and ten times that of Earth. Although still was not detected directly Due to its distance and weak luminosity, its existence is deduced from the influence it exerts on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs). This discovery represents a milestone for astronomy, opening questions about the confines of the Solar System and the bodies that inhabit it.
At the moment the extreme distance and low luminosity of this possible planet represent a challenge for modern telescopes. To overcome these problems, NASA is already working on the development of a next-generation telescope designed specifically to explore the most remote regions of the Solar System.
Source: Ambito
