New planet?

[STYRBJORN]

A hitherto unknown planet may be orbiting the Sun at 15000 AU, 375 times the distance of Pluto. Tentatively named Tyche, it is believed to be a gas giant of ~4x the mass of Jupiter.

For a useful summary of what is known so far, go to the Independent on line Science column.

Ric

[nytecam]

Originally Posted by STYRBJORN

A hitherto unknown planet may be orbiting the Sun at 15000 AU, 375 times the distance of Pluto. Tentatively named Tyche, it is believed to be a gas giant of ~4x the mass of Jupiter.

For a useful summary of what is known so far, go to the Independent on line Science column. Ric

Specific clickable link please

[artdemole]

withdrawn as wrong link.

[artdemole]

Missed an l from daily mail on previous post.

Did a type in on Google.Came up from Daily Mail online -Tyche(Ty-kee) Is in outer Oort Cloud.Details to be released this year.Some proof has been gathered by Nasa via Astronomical Satellite Wise.Some comments say recorded as a 'dark star' by Infrared Satellite on December 31st 1983.The Independent newspaper has a pdf file to download showing It's position.

So type in Tyche in your browser for more of the info...aDm...

[STYRBJORN]

Originally Posted by nytecam

Specific clickable link please

Sorry, my computer literacy is very poor. Google "Independent", click on the top link, when the paper comes up click on the science section, then go to the appropriate heading. Science Editor Steve Connor is one of the better commentators.

As aDm says, even the existence of the planet is not yet certain. There is also doubt as to its status, as it may have been captured from another star after the formation of our solar system. I just like the idea that after Pluto got downgraded so we only have 8 planets a big beast like this turns up. 4x the mass of Jupiter? That is one big planet! I just tried to convert its orbital distance into kilometers and ran out of zeros.

[Jim Ford]

How about this link:

Up telescope! Search begins for giant new planet - Science, News - The Independent

Jim

[Farplace]

Amazing. thank you!!

[STYRBJORN]

It has just occurred to me that Tyche really screws up the maths. It is generally accepted that the Sun carries ~98% of the angular momentum of the Solar System; Jupiter carries ~2% and the other planets can be ignored for all intents and purposes. But a planet of 4x Jupiter's mass, at 15000 AU, must needs have a LOT of angular momentum. I can't handle the maths, but it really messes up a lot of orbital calculations. NASA must be redoing a lot of sums. Voyager 2 didn't go quite where expected. A big point mass in the Oort cloud might explain why. Roll on learning more!

Ric

[nytecam]

Thanks - theory is another matter - give me a shout when the planet's discovered

[carlos_dfc]

Yes - It's currently no more than a postulation, based on the percieved points of origin in the Oort cloud, of a group of long-period comets.
The results of the WISE survey should eventually confirm or deny.
As of yet - this object is no more than a 'maybe'.

I also think that it's a bad idea to name it 'Tyche' - as there is already a main-belt asteroid by that name.

The really sad thing is that the Nibiru/PlanetX-nutcases are jumping on it as 'proof' of their end-of-the-world theories