New Planet Found in Our Solar System

badcompany · 15 May 2012 at 21:48

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/05/120511-new-planet-solar-system-kuiper-belt-space-science

Wow this is going give the Nibiru lot a orgasm isn't it?

An as yet undiscovered planet might be orbiting at the dark fringes of the solar system, according to new research.

Too far out to be easily spotted by telescopes, the potential unseen planet appears to be making its presence felt by disturbing the orbits of so-called Kuiper belt objects, said Rodney Gomes, an astronomer at the National Observatory of Brazil in Rio de Janeiro.

Kuiper belt objects are small icy bodies—including some dwarf planets—that lie beyond the orbit of Neptune.

Lysander · 15 May 2012 at 21:49

Bet it's not.

Marmot · 15 May 2012 at 21:52

Would be seriously surprising.

RomanNose · 15 May 2012 at 21:53

Just shows that we have no clue what we are doing

if we can't even get the basics right.
God damn it, too many unknowns in this universe.

Curio · 15 May 2012 at 21:56

RomanNose said:
Just shows that we have no clue what we are doing if we can't even get the basics right.
God damn it, too many unknowns in this universe.

Exactly why I keep an open mind on everything

DAnDan · 15 May 2012 at 21:56

RomanNose said:
Just shows that we have no clue what we are doing if we can't even get the basics right.
God damn it, too many unknowns in this universe.

In what way is finding this showing that we're "getting the basics wrong"? :confused:

RomanNose · 15 May 2012 at 21:57

DAnDan said:
In what way is finding this showing that we're "getting the basics wrong"?

Think how small the solar system is compared to the rest of the Universe.

simpletom · 15 May 2012 at 21:58

RomanNose said:
Just shows that we have no clue what we are doing if we can't even get the basics right.
God damn it, too many unknowns in this universe.

No, YOU can't get the basics right. We're all fine knowing the word isn't flat...

DAnDan · 15 May 2012 at 21:58

RomanNose said:
Think how small the solar system is compared to the rest of the Universe.

That doesn't answer my question. How have we got the basics wrong, by finding additional objects that were as of yet unfound? Surely, if anything, this discovery shows we're constantly improving on what we have already.

RomanNose · 15 May 2012 at 21:59

DAnDan said:
That doesn't answer my question. How have we got the basics wrong, by finding additional objects that were as of yet unfound? Surely, if anything, this discovery shows we're constantly improving on what we have already.

It does but you would have thought considering how small it is, we wouldn't have any hidden surprises by now.

coltpython3 · 15 May 2012 at 22:00

ok so we have found another planet in our solar system. how is this going to affect us?

Nitefly · 15 May 2012 at 22:00

I don't care what anyone says, Pluto is still a planet. Scientific fact.

RomanNose · 15 May 2012 at 22:01

Nitefly said:
I don't care what anyone says, Pluto is still a planet. Scientific fact.

Thread just about to reach 9 pages in 3...2...1 lift off!

Ahleckz · 15 May 2012 at 22:02

Nitefly said:
I don't care what anyone says, Pluto is still a planet. Scientific fact.

Notion seconded.

Mr Gimp · 15 May 2012 at 22:02

It's blatantly a Mass Effect relay.....

DAnDan · 15 May 2012 at 22:02

RomanNose said:
It does

No, it really doesn't. I'll ask again, how does finding another, likely very tiny planet, that wasn't noticed before, due to the difficulty in detecting it, prove in any way that we have got *anything* wrong? Finding out that planets are in fact made of cheese, and are attached to the sun via string, not mavity, would show we've got "the basics" wrong. Discovering more things does not.

RomanNose said:
you would have thought considering how small it is, we wouldn't have any hidden surprises by now.

You honestly think that we have every single inch of the solar system mapped out!? Every last possible orbit diameter and time? You're drastically underestimating the size of space if you think that.

badcompany · 15 May 2012 at 22:03

coltpython3 said:
ok so we have found another planet in our solar system. how is this going to affect us?

its probably responsible for a lot of the comets/asteroid/junk thrown at us from kuiper belt?

DAnDan · 15 May 2012 at 22:04

coltpython3 said:
ok so we have found another planet in our solar system. how is this going to affect us?

In our lifetime, apart from this thread, pretty much guaranteed not to. In the future, minuscule chance it will be useful at some point. It's just a report of a discovery, interesting news, but hardly groundbreaking in any sense.

Nitefly said:
I don't care what anyone says, Pluto is still a planet. Scientific fact.

Support Pluto!

RomanNose · 15 May 2012 at 22:05

DAnDan said:
No, it really doesn't. I'll ask again, how does finding another, likely very tiny planet, that wasn't noticed before, due to the difficulty in detecting it, prove in any way that we have got *anything* wrong? Finding out that planets are in fact made of cheese, and are attached to the sun via string, not mavity, would show we've got "the basics" wrong. Discovering more things does not.

You honestly think that we have every single inch of the solar system mapped out!? Every last possible orbit diameter and time? You're drastically underestimating the size of space if you think that.

OK I will admit that I was wrong saying that but it's still a bit surprising if true. I don't think most people would think we would find another one.

Ahleckz · 15 May 2012 at 22:07

We had a debate on state funded space programmes a while ago. It would be interesting to have it again now, in today's economical problematic World.

I'm for space programme, but not now. It's an expense that we can ill afford and there are many more important things 'at home'. I'm glad there are more private companies around who are seeking to exploit space. It can only be a good thing in my eyes.

New Planet Found in Our Solar System

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