Astronomers: In the solar system may be present Earth-Earth-2 and 3 – Moskovsky Komsomolets

Scientists have discovered a strange distortion in the orbits of asteroids

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At least two new unknown planet can located in the far reaches of the solar system, say European astronomers. According to a study cited by The Gardian, these celestial bodies can have a size comparable to the size of the Earth.

Photo: nasa.gov

Similar conclusions prompted astronomers observing asteroids located on the orbits of Neptune and Pluto. Usually the trajectory of motion of celestial bodies around the Sun are certain permanent characteristics. However, some of them, as it turned out, occasionally deviate from the standard route under the influence of the gravitational field of some invisible from Earth objects larger size.

“We believe that the most plausible explanation for this phenomenon is that beyond Neptune and Pluto are located other planet unknown to us” – says Professor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos from the Complutense University of Madrid. “It is impossible to accurately call their number, considering that we have a limited amount of data, but our calculations suggest that there are at least two such planets in the outer reaches of our solar system, and perhaps they are even more “- he said.

NASA Kepler Telescope discovered a planet that diameter is 2.5 times the size of Earth

The debate among astronomers about the number of planets in the solar system to continue for decades. Until recently, in the early 2000s, it was believed that the planets nine. However, in 2006 the International Astronomical Union stripped Pluto title of the planet due to the small size and unusual, highly inclined orbits, identifying it to the trans-Neptunian objects (TNO).

At about the same period in the solar system have been found similar to Pluto cosmic bodies, such as Eris, Makemake and Haumea, and scientists think seriously about the possibility of the existence of new planets orbiting the sun.

The current study, according to European astronomers can have a truly revolutionary impact on our understanding of the solar system, if the calculations are confirmed and new large objects will be able to find.