Mysterious 10th Planet Discovered Beyond Pluto

In summary, there is a newly discovered planet, Sedna, that orbits beyond the orbits of Pluto and Neptune. There is controversy over whether or not Pluto should be considered a planet, as well as discussions about potentially creating a new category of "planetoids" for smaller objects in our solar system. However, Sedna itself is not currently classified as a planet.
  • #1
turin
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Does anyone know anything about a tenth planet (a planet that orbits outside of pluto's and neptune's orbits) that was discovered a few months ago?
 
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  • #3
Man, they should have stuck with Roman names. Save the other pantheons for other systems.
 
  • #4
8,9,10, 11 planets

Sedna, of course, re-opens the controversy of what consitutes a planet.
Some would argue that charon should be a planet. Others would say that Pluto doesn't count as one at all.
sedna, pluto ...
 
  • #5
they were planning on dividing planets into two different categories. One would be planets, whihc is large bodies of mass circling the sun. THe other catergory would be planetoids (combination of the word planet and asteroid). These planetoids would be small in their size but are circling the sun, and nevertheless a part of our solar system.
 
  • #7
Thanks, all. The issue has been fully resolved to my personal satisfaction (which, incidently, was not at all stringent this time).
 

Related to Mysterious 10th Planet Discovered Beyond Pluto

1. What is the mysterious 10th planet that has been discovered beyond Pluto?

The mysterious 10th planet is a hypothetical planet called "Planet X" or "Planet Nine". It is believed to be a large, icy world located beyond the orbit of Neptune.

2. How was the 10th planet discovered?

The 10th planet was discovered through mathematical modeling and computer simulations. Astronomers noticed irregularities in the orbits of several distant Kuiper Belt objects and proposed the existence of a large, unknown planet to explain these anomalies.

3. Is the 10th planet bigger than Pluto?

Yes, the 10th planet is believed to be much larger than Pluto. It is estimated to have a mass 5 to 10 times that of Earth and a diameter 2 to 4 times that of Earth.

4. What is the potential impact of the 10th planet on our solar system?

The potential impact of the 10th planet on our solar system is still unknown. Some scientists believe that its gravitational pull could affect the orbits of other planets, while others suggest that its presence could explain certain patterns in the asteroid belt.

5. When will we be able to see the 10th planet?

Currently, the 10th planet has not been directly observed or confirmed. If it does exist, it is likely very far from the sun and difficult to detect with current technology. However, astronomers are actively searching for evidence of its existence and hope to have more information in the future.

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