Evidence of a Ninth Planet

Caltech's Konstantin Batygin, an assistant professor of planetary science, and Mike Brown, the Richard and Barbara Rosenberg Professor of Planetary Astronomy, discuss new research that provides evidence of a giant planet tracing a bizarre, highly elongated orbit in the outer solar system.

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Attributions:
- Artist's concept and animation: Robert Hurt (Caltech/IPAC) & WorldWide Telescope
- Images: NASA, Keck Observatory, Cerro Tolo Observatory
- Motion graphics & editing: Caltech Academic Media Technologies

Produced in partnership with Caltech Academic Media Technologies and the Office of Strategic Communications. ©2016 California Institute of Technology

[lookcore]

Imagine Super intelligent Aliens observing us saying "lol those suckers just discovered they have a 9th planet in their solar system. Wonder how long they are gonna take to discover the 10th"

[microproductions]

I really hope this planet exists. If confirmed, this would be one of the most important discoveries of the 21st century. I never thought this would happen. Amazing!

[Spongeyfrog]

Lets just call it Nibiru so everyone gets the best of both 'worlds'.

[SorinSilaghi]

This does not make up for what you did to Pluto, you

[ponca]

Oh man, I can see all these "Planet X - Nibiru" comments coming!

[KingofPersia]

Let's just call this new planet Pluto and act like nothing happen

[sethstenzel]

First we tell Pluto it can't be on the team because its too small, then we replace it with a big hitter who's new on the block. Its 4th grade dodge ball all over again.

[Niotekk]

They should make a worldwide strawpoll to name it.

[gregorybrothers]

Please start the name of this planet with a 'P' I need my very excellent mother to be sending me pizzas

[jayjack]

Ehm sorry to break it to you all planet naming lovers but all solar system planets have been named by IAU after ancient Greek/Roman mythology gods and it's extremely unlikely that pattern is going to change. So, as much as Bowie, Jackson and Hitlerisstillalive might sound cool to some, it's more likely this planet will be named something like Hera or so.

[emilytinykitty]

"People are still mad about Pluto, but they'll be thrilled that there could be a 9th planet"

NO, GIVE ME BACK MY PLANET PLUTO YOU JERK.

[badjoj]

since the 9th planet orbits 20, 000 years, there's no question that human beings in future generation would likely see and know it in more or less 15, 000 years

[festerbestertester]

I guess it could be called one of these:

Hades - "The Unseen One"
Terminus - the god who protected boundary markers.

[TrionityIr]

Love the 3-D graphics depictions about the orbits of the planets (regular, dwarf, icy) in the solar system.
I wish I can watch an in-depth video about the solar systems and all the dwarf planets and their 3-D orbits.

[spagopinath]

Wow. I'm surprised that it is already written in a book "The holy science by Swami Sri Yukteswar" which was originally published around 1900.
In the introduction while explaining yugas the author says "The Sun, with its planets and their moons, takes some star for its dual, and revolves around it in about 24000 years".

If the book is true, it might not be the 9th planet revolving around the Sun in 20000 years, but the whole solar system revolves around it in 24000 years. 🤔

[Fcollector]

Just now watching - I remember my college professor talking about this "missing planet" or "large mass" (w it's gravitational pull, etc.) . . . I was open to the idea, but most thought he was way off base. Prof. Hensen passed away several years ago - guess who got the last laugh . . . great video, thanks for posting and sharing this information
Tom (F4collector)

[AverageoJoe]

Wow! This is an exceptionally great discovery for the entire field of astronomy! This new research on a potential ninth planet may be remembered for decades to come.

[anurgaprasad]

comment number 22

this video might get billion of views

[Dukeflyhawker]

Their theory of another planet with a wide 20k year orbit cycle is what I've always suggested causes our ice ages; as it passes every so slowly past the Earth, blocking out the Sun for part of its journey

[brettbaldwin]

I saw we name it Westeros, being that it now has the longest winter of any planet ever.