
Mike Brown believes strongly that past Neptune, out at the edges of our solar system, lies a massive, hidden planet.
"The fifth biggest planet in our solar system is out there, awaiting discovery," remarks the Caltech astronomer.
For approximately ten years, he and other scientists have been doing this work. trying To demonstrate the existence of what’s known as "Planet 9."
So far, the only evidence These anomalies originate from the unusual paths traced by tiny objects similar to Pluto. This celestial peculiarity might be due to the gravitational influence of a massive planet.
However, nobody has actually seen Planet 9 yet. Because it’s so distant, it would appear as an extremely dim object, plus the area of the sky that scientists must explore is enormous.
Today, however, scientists are nearing the completion of a significant astronomical installation atop a mountain in Chile. The NSF-DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory, a collaborative effort between the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy, has been under construction for many years. Later this month, workers are anticipated to begin the process of commissioning and finely adjusting its equipment.
Brown mentions that he couldn't have wished for a more suitable telescope for pursuing his heavenly targets.
If someone handed me a large sum of money with instructions to construct a telescope aimed at discovering Planet 9 or gathering compelling evidence about its existence, I'd likely opt to build the Vera Rubin Observatory," states Brown. "This observatory truly represents an instrument ideally designed for taking us one step further in our search.
The best bet
Bob Blum Rubin's operational head states that the observatory will nightly scan nearly the complete southern celestial sphere, capturing images continuously using the largest digital camera. camera in the world.
"As it is a large telescope, it has the capability to observe very dim objects," explains Blum.
Furthermore, the observatory’s images will be fed into computer systems designed to continuously compare these new pictures with past ones. This process will enable the detection of any alterations—such as Planet Nine traversing the heavens.
"Pretty easily, we ought to be capable of locating it if it exists," states Blum.
The observatory will revolutionize the search for Planet 9, concurs. Scott Sheppard Of Carnegie Science, one of the scientists who initially proposed that a large planet might be the cause for disrupting the orbits of certain minor objects within our solar system.
"Sheppard suggests that Vera Rubin might be our strongest chance to discover it within the coming years, likely so. It will examine more celestial bodies than any previous investigation," he states.
Should Planet 9 actually exist, his calculations suggest that this observatory has between a 70% and 80% probability of detecting it. However, he cautions that detection isn’t guaranteed due to numerous uncertainties involved.
Sheppard states that they are unsure about the planet’s size, its reflectivity, and its distance. These factors will dictate how luminous the planet truly appears.
If Planet 9 turns out to be small, dim, and extremely distant, he clarifies, "it will likely reside at the very limit of what Vera Rubin can detect, so Vera Rubin might not be able to spot it."
However, even if the Rubin Observatory fails to detect Planet 9 directly, it may uncover some smaller celestial bodies whose paths around the sun could have been influenced by Planet 9. This discovery could offer further proof of the existence of this massive planet.
According to Sheppard, astronomers have not yet discovered enough distant minor planets that are small enough and far away enough to have orbits which could reveal signs of Planet Nine’s gravitational impact. Therefore, he believes whether this planet exists remains uncertain.
"The statistics just aren't there to definitively say yes or no," he says.
Getting serious
Meanwhile, Brown expresses his "extreme confidence" that Planet 9 exists beyond our current observations.
Throughout the years, he has attempted to stay doubtful, as he mentions, yet was ultimately persuaded by a little-known gravitational phenomenon that both him and several coworkers observed. reported About a year ago.
“If you ask 20 different astronomers for their level of confidence, you’ll likely hear 20 distinct perspectives,” remarks Brown. “However, I simply cannot envision a scenario where our solar system could function as we know it without the presence of Planet Nine.”
As the year moves forward, he explains, the Rubin Observatory will gradually create an initial image of the sky. By year’s end, it ought to begin identifying variations and sharing that information with astronomers.
According to Brown, at that stage, "it will be time to seriously search for Planet Nine."
He notes that even though they might not be able to directly observe a new planet, the Rubin Observatory will likely supply ample new information. This influx of data could help determine if the suspected orbital patterns they have observed stand up under examination.
What Vera Rubin will undoubtedly accomplish," states Brown, "is informing us if we are sane or not.
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