The number of planets in the solar system keeps fluctuating from 8 to 9 depending on whether astronomers find Pluto large enough to be a planet. However, another mysterious planet, the so-called Ninth Planet might be prowling in the periphery of the solar system. Scientists have found a massive exoplanet in a different solar system, which exhibits strange behavior, which is similar to a hypothesized ninth planet. They have found that exoplanet HD106906 b is almost 336 light-years far away from our planet earth. The data has found that the total mass of the exoplanet is equivalent to 11 Jupiter. The newly discovered planet orbits a double star system. Scientists found it in 2013 itself but they were unable to gather many details about it. However, NASA’s Hubble telescope has been able to gather 14 years worth of accurate data about the exoplanet. It has offered a treasure of new insight about the new mysterious planet.
Scientists have said that the exoplanet is quite far away from its host stars. It is 730 times more far from the Sun than it is far from the earth. The slow 15000 years long orbit of the new planet does not allow any conclusive observation in just 14 years, said the experts. As per the Hubble team, the orbit of the exoplanet stays on the outside of a debris disc adjoining the twin stars. Its orbit is very inclined, extreme, and extended. The lead author of the study Meiji Nguyen has said that in our solar system all the planets rest approximately on the same plane. It is bizarre to see how HD106906 b has been located so far out on a leaning orbit. He has said that it is uncertain how the planet has developed such an orbit. Experts have said that it has originated much closer to the host stars but due to the drag from the system’s gas disc, its orbit might have been affected. The drag from the system’s gas disc might have pushed the mysterious planet closer to twin stars.
The gravitation force of the twin stars might have bowled it into eccentric orbit. Experts have said that a passing start might have rectified the orbit of the exoplanet and then refrained it from leaving the home system. This process might have pushed the potential Planet Nine towards the edges of the solar system beyond the Kuiper belt. Scientists have said that Jupiter as well might have pushed the exoplanet out from the inner solar system, which might have impacted its orbit. Planet Nine would have surpassed Pluto but a passing star has refrained it by changing its orbit, said the experts. However further investigation is needed to substantiate the findings of this new research.
