Japanese scientists eye new planet

[Celebration]

http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/breakingnews/world/view/20080228-121776/Japanese-scientists-eye-new-planet

TOKYO -- Scientists at a Japanese university said Thursday they believed another planet up to two-thirds the size of the Earth was orbiting in the far reaches of the solar system.

The researchers at Kobe University in western Japan said calculations using computer simulations led them to conclude it was only a matter of time before the mysterious "Planet X" was found.

"Because of the very cold temperature, its surface would be covered with ice, icy ammonia and methane," Kobe University professor Tadashi Mukai, the lead researcher, told Agence France-Presse.

The study by Mukai and researcher Patryk Lykawka will be published in the April issue of the US-based Astronomical Journal.

"The possibility is high that a yet unknown, planet-class celestial body, measuring 30 percent to 70 percent of the Earth's mass, exists in the outer edges of the solar system," said a summary of the research released by Kobe University.

[Magnifica]

1. wow, that's bigger than I thought n/t

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

2. One wonders how much more will be discovered

With this possible new planet within our solar system, is there any doubt that other solar systems have planets as well--and very likely ones with life?

[Occulus]

3. Other solar systes DO have planets

They've been confirmed. We can see the wobble their stars exhibit as an effect of their gravity.

As to life elsewhere, we should check Europa first.

[Fire Walk With Me]

4. How long ago did we discover that there were other galaxies, etc.?

The rate of discovery is nearly exponential, so we'll likely know the truth about this and related concepts fairly soon.

This is an incredible time to be alive.

[electron_blue]

5. Note that the scientists predict that such a planet will be found. Not that it has been found.

The article isn't clear on that til the end of the article. The claim the scientists make is based on theoretical models, not observations.

[Celebration]

7. The best I can tell, it is math

It has to do with the movement of small objects in the solar system. It doesn't mean they are correct, of course. But they are credible scientists, and perhaps their data deserves a look.

[electron_blue]

8. That's my point - they have no data. They have theoretical results, but no data.

There's nothing wrong with theoretical work, per se, but don't get the impression these scientists have any observational evidence (also known as data) for this terrestrial-sized planet. They are saying it is likely to be one out there based on numerical simulations of solar system formation models. I'm a planetary scientist and I thought this got lost in the writing of the news report and was trying to clear this up for others here.

[Celebration]

10. well the title said "eye"

That does imply that something was sighted........and it wasn't. But I thought the article itself was very clear, that this was based on a theoretical model.

Do they know where it is, and its orbit (theoretically speaking)? It would be a lot easier to look for it if they know the location.

[electron_blue]

11. I agree, it was the title that I thought was misleading. At any rate, their

modeling results indicate a high probability of a larger object (~Mars-sized) and searches are underway by other groups. I didn't see that they were looking in any particular part of the sky, although they are probably keeping close to the ecliptic.

[katty]

6. more on planet X

a very controversial topic, it's all over this site: try www.zetatalk.com

[CGowen]

9. I only heard about the brown dwarf theory 10 years ago

http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/astronomy/outer_planets_991014.html