In the solar system, there may be a "tenth" planet

Scientists have found evidence of the existence in our system of a previously unknown planet comparable in size to Mars: this is evidenced by the behavior of objects in the Kuiper belt.

Researchers from the University of Arizona said that in the solar system, there may be a "second Mars". The results of the study were sent for publication in The Astronomical Journal, and briefly with the findings can be found in New Scientist.

The eighth planet of our system, Neptune, is 30.1 astronomical units (a.e.) away from the Sun on average. Further further is the Kuiper belt: it extends from the orbit of Neptune to a distance of 55 a. E. From the light. This area of ​​the system is similar to the asteroid belt, but 20 times wider and 20 to 200 times more massive. The Kuiper belt consists mainly of small bodies.

It was their behavior that prompted scientists to think about the existence of an unknown planet. More precisely, we are talking about Kuiper belt objects located at a range of more than 50 a. From the sun. The slope of their orbit, according to scientists, does not fit into the familiar model and differs by 8 degrees.

The authors of the study say that objects can be influenced by an unknown planet located nearby. Based on the impact on the Kuiper belt, the scientists calculated the mass and size of the hypothetical "tenth" planet. On these indicators, the object should resemble Mars, however, probably other aspects are very different, since the planet is much further away from the Sun. Also scientists believe that in the young Solar system its orbit was located much closer to the luminary.

The "tenth" hypothetical planet can be considered only under the condition of the existence of the ninth - the mysterious planet X. The news of its discovery "exploded" the scientific world in 2016. The authors of the discovery are Mike Brown and Konstantin Batygin. Not all scientists share the hypothesis of the existence of an object. As for the "tenth" planet, the authors hope to prove its reality after discovering new Kuiper belt objects.