However,
Planet 9 may have finally:
The hypothesis of the existence of a ninth planet in the solar system dates back to the middle of the past decade. Moreover, when astronomers tried to understand the abnormal orbits of transneptunian objects. Similarly, These objects, located beyond the orbit of Neptune, follow very inclined and highly elongated trajectories. Therefore, To explain these observations. For example, Astronomers proposed the existence of a planet of a mass between 5 and 10 times that of the earth, called planet 9.
This ninth planet would be beyond the orbit of Neptune. Nevertheless, in planet 9 may have finally a region so distant that sunlight would take a long time to reach it, therefore being extremely weak. For example, The planet 9 would thus be very cold. Therefore, not very bright in the visible spectrum, which makes its observation particularly difficult. Similarly, Until today, astronomers are trying to detect clues of its presence. Furthermore, Another obstacle lies in the uncertainty concerning its exact position in the Kuiper belt. Consequently, which even more complicates any attempt at direct observation.
However, A group of astronomers may recently found observational evidence in favor of planet 9. Moreover, In a recent study, researchers used data from the Akari telescope of the Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). This telescope observed in the infrared wavelengths. which made it possible to detect cold and not very bright objects in other parts of the spectrum.
Planet 9 – Planet 9 may have finally
Planet 9 is a hypothetical planet that could exist in regions planet 9 may have finally located beyond Neptune orbit, within the solar system. Its existence was proposed to explain the orbits of objects whose trajectories are grouped and extremely elliptical. The gravitational influence of a massive planet – estimated between 5. 10 times the mass of the earth – could account for the observed trajectories of these objects.
Planet 9 should be at a distance equivalent to several hundred times that separating the earth from the sun. to explain the anomalies observed in the trajectories of these transneptunian objects.
This planet would take several thousand years to make a complete revolution around the sun. From our point of view, it would therefore remain very long in the same region of the sky, moving slowly. Its extreme distance from the sun would imply a very low temperature. as well as very low light in the visible spectrum, which would make its detection particularly difficult. It would therefore planet 9 may have finally be necessary to observe in the infrared wavelengths to hope to spot it.
AKARI
The Akari space telescope was a telescope designed and operated by the Japanese aerospace exploration agency (Jaxa). He observed in infrared wavelengths and was equipped with a 67 centimeter mirror. Akari’s objective was to map the entire sky in different bands of the infrared. Like the James Webb telescope. Akari had to be cooled to temperatures close to absolute zero using liquid helium, so that they can detect very low objects.
Akari remained active until 2011. continues to contribute to the study of the universe in infrared thanks to the data he collected. These made it possible to map stars formation regions, observe red giant stars and classify infrared sources. Even after its out of service. Akari’s data is still used today, as is the case in the search for the planet 9.
Difficulties linked to the observation of planet 9 may have finally the planet 9
Being a cold object, planet 9 would only be observable in infrared wavelengths. This is why a group of astronomers decided to use the data in the Akari telescope to try to. find clues of its existence. Their idea consisted in looking for sources located in a very specific region of the sky. identified by computer simulations as the most likely to locate this ninth planet. The group therefore looked for an object that would seem stationary over a period of one day.
However, Planet 9 could present a detectable movement over several months, despite an extreme slowness from our point of planet 9 may have finally view. By comparing observations made at different times by the Akari telescope. the team managed to identify objects with this type of movement. They then had to eliminate any parasitic noise as well as extremely distant objects, like other galaxies.
Candidates for planet 9
At the end of their analysis, the researchers identified two potential candidates on planet 9. These two objects are found in the same region of the sky as that indicated by computer simulations as. being the most likely to locate this planet. They emit an amount of infrared radiation in accordance with what is expected for this still hypothetical object. Although these results require additional confirmations, these two objects represent a significant advance in the search for the ninth planet.
These two candidates will now have to be observed using other more recent telescopes. such as the James Webb telescope, which also operates in the infrared. If their nature is confirmed. the discovery of planet 9 would end almost a decade of research and revolutionize our understanding of the formation of the solar system as well as the evolution of the most distant objects.
Article reference:
Chen et al. 2025 A far-infrared search for planet nine using AKARI all-sky survey Publications of the Astronomical Society of Australia
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