Post by sherlew99 on Feb 1, 2016 1:43:36 GMT -6
NPR
Science
The Planets We Don't Have
Updated January 31, 20165:03 PM ET
Published January 31, 20168:39 AM ET
Commentary
Adam Frank
... So, clearly, super-Earths are important? But then why don't we have them? Why have we been left out of the party?
Remarkably, the answer to this question of the planets we don't have may already have been found.
Last week, astronomers announced they had discovered evidence of a true ninth planet in our solar system. Orbiting the sun far beyond Neptune, this new potential planet may have formed in the inner solar system and been kicked out into the depths of space by encounters with other solar system bodies.
And what mass do scientists predict for this new world? The estimate is about 10 Earth masses. So if it's real, our ninth planet might be our very own super-Earth.
Science
The Planets We Don't Have
Updated January 31, 20165:03 PM ET
Published January 31, 20168:39 AM ET
Commentary
Adam Frank
... So, clearly, super-Earths are important? But then why don't we have them? Why have we been left out of the party?
Remarkably, the answer to this question of the planets we don't have may already have been found.
Last week, astronomers announced they had discovered evidence of a true ninth planet in our solar system. Orbiting the sun far beyond Neptune, this new potential planet may have formed in the inner solar system and been kicked out into the depths of space by encounters with other solar system bodies.
And what mass do scientists predict for this new world? The estimate is about 10 Earth masses. So if it's real, our ninth planet might be our very own super-Earth.
Click here for the rest of the article.
