The Ninth Planet - Myth or Reality

 Is there a ninth planet in our solar system? This question has puzzled scientists for several years. Since 2006, when Pluto was removed from the list of planets, only eight are officially known to exist. However, some researchers suggest that there may be an undiscovered planet somewhere beyond Neptune. This hypothetical cosmic entity was named Planet Nine.

Over the past 20 years, our knowledge of the outer solar system has grown significantly. Of particular interest to scientists is trans-Neptunian space, located beyond the sphere of influence of the giant planets. A whole population of mysterious objects called Extreme Trans-Neptunian Objects (ETNOs) has been discovered in its nooks and crannies. It is their unique features that have sparked heated scientific debate.

The team of researchers postulates that the unusual behavior of ETNOs may suggest the existence of a hidden, unseen presence of Planet Nine. If it does exist, it would have to be a colossal planet, 4-8 times the mass of Earth, about ten times farther from the Sun than Pluto. Such a discovery would mean the introduction of an entirely new type of planet into the solar system.

The planets of our system can be divided into two main categories. They are either small rocky celestial bodies with a solid surface (Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars) or gas giants (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune). Planet Nine, if it exists, would probably fall somewhere between these two categories. It could be the so-called Super-Earth, a rocky planet larger than Earth, or Sub-Neptune, a gaseous world slightly smaller and less massive than Neptune.

The challenge is that finding this extra planet is not easy. Being so distant, it would be unimaginably faint, so the most powerful telescopes available would be needed to observe it. Unfortunately, these usually have a very limited field of vision. Despite considerable efforts in recent years to find this elusive world with these telescopes, so far searches have been unsuccessful.

However, from a scientific point of view, the discovery of Planet Nine would open up completely new possibilities. This would allow us to explore a category of planets that are virtually unknown until now. Objects of this type have been found orbiting other stars, but due to their vast distances, our knowledge of them is limited. The existence of this planet would be a breakthrough in the study of the solar system and would greatly expand our understanding of the cosmos and its inhabitants.