In our solar system may be on the two planets more – Moskovsky Komsomolets

The existence of new celestial bodies beyond Neptune suggested Spanish scientists

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The solar system may increase from 8 to 10 planets! The assumption that the orbit of Neptune may be at least another two large celestial body, and several times larger than the Earth, made a few days ago the Spanish astronomers. What prompted them to this version, “MK” discussed with head of the department of physics and evolution of stars Institute of Astronomy (INASAN) Dmitry vibe.

Photo: nasa.gov

– In our solar system, beyond the orbit of Neptune has an asteroid belt so-called trans-Neptunian group – says Dmitry vibe. – Among them, a very large body, such as Pluto (which until 2006 was considered a planet, and then was dropped from the list by decision of the International Astronomical Union – Ed.). Several asteroids flying is not on the usual route, and are subject to a certain order, which is likely to create a gravitational force of some larger bodies. Imagine a circular motion several bodies, some on each turn if overfly some invisible object or, on the contrary, fall into a pit.

According to the scientist, attempts to find a mysterious body beyond Neptune have taken more than once when many astronomers using different telescopes. Professor Carlos de la Fuente Marcos and his colleagues at the Complutense University of Madrid suggested that beyond the orbit of Neptune and Pluto should be not one but at least two of the body dimensions of a few Earth masses. Established researchers and distance to these bodies: one should be in the 200 astronomical units (AU) from the Sun, and the other – 250 AU.

– They can be seen?

– Not yet. However, the future development of space telescopes, with which it will be possible to observe the sky in the infrared, the more sensitive range, may one day allow us to truly discover these planets if they are there, of course, there is.

Help “MK». With the help of a telescope “Hubble” after 2010 it was discovered more than 14 trans-Neptunian objects, such as Eris, Makemake and Haumea. Their diameter ranges from 45 to 100 kilometers. One of them was a double. In general, since as Trans-Neptunian region (or the Kuiper belt) opened in 1992, the number of open objects it has exceeded one thousand. It is also estimated that about 100 thousand more have not yet been found.