You know how you sometimes can sense that something is present even though you can't see it? Well, astronomers are getting that feeling about a giant, hidden object in space.
And when we say giant, we mean GIANT.
Evidence is mounting that either a brown dwarf star or a gas giant planet is lurking at the outermost reaches of our solar system, far beyond Pluto. The theoretical object, dubbed Tyche, is estimated to be four times the size of Jupiter and 15,000 times farther from the sun than Earth, according to a story in the British paper The Independent.
Astrophysicists John Matese and Daniel Whitmire from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette think data from NASA's infrared space telescope WISE will confirm Tyche's existence and location within two years.
The presence of such a massive object in the solar system's far-flung Oort Cloud could explain a barrage of comets from an unexpected direction, according to a December article at Space.com.
Its 27 million-year orbit could also explain a pattern of mass extinctions on Earth, scientists say.
Brown dwarfs are cold "failed" stars; their dimness and lack of heat radiation can make them hard to detect. Gas giants are huge planets – like Saturn, Jupiter and Neptune – that are made up of gases and may lack a solid surface like Earth's.
Whitmire told The Independent that Tyche will probably be composed of hydrogen and helium and have colorful spots, bands and clouds like Jupiter.
"You'd also expect it to have moons," he said. "All the outer planets have them."
Tyche was first hypothesized in 1984 as Nemesis, a dark companion star to the sun. It's been the subject of astronomical research and debate ever since. In July, another Space.com article said the celestial evidence suggests Tyche could not possibly exist.
To distinguish it from the Nemesis star theory, Matese and Whitmire are calling their object Tyche, after the good sister of the goddess Nemesis in Greek mythology.
Their research is published in Icarus, the International Journal of Solar System Studies.
© 2011 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Contact us | Work for us | Help
I love how these hollow theories fly around in the media. And It's no shocker this suddenly became a story designed to exploit the fears of the non-enthusiast ignorant worker too busy to care about the twinkling mess of the cosmos but paranoid enough to figure out the Aztec Apocalypse. Way to go journalists.
Why is it so hard to beleive something that has happened several times before may possibly happen during our lifetime ? Extinctions are no myth, evidence exists of something having occured here on this globe. So what was it that happened ? Nevermind other evidence suggesting there is an object out there someplace they cannot quite find for years, based all on the math, and how they figure the planets are supposed to work with each other and mass and all manner of other crazy mathamatics and science, is it really that hard to beleive this object could be there... just because it could be there does not mean you have to go all 2012 doomsday crazy over it, just means there is a HUGE object out there and yea, things could change, but are things not changing all the time anyways ?
stupid is as stupid does right? blind leading the what? look things up school yourself what else do you have to do? you got this far right? lol
Hmmmm if it is that bigg . . . .then I would agree that we should be able to see it, but then what about the space men that are here . . . . or the earth Space travlers who have been to different places in the Universe, let alone our own tiny Galaxy
Net time you go, I would love to try one of those modern devices . . . called a Transporter, Thats all for to day,
Beam me up Scotty
Chip
why so much hating in this thread? the aliens exist and they love us. its going to be okay guys. one.
¿Que rayos es esto? y como antes no se hablo de este ¿ planeta ? ,¿ como esta conformado? ,si es asi .¿ tiene satelites o lunas ?, viene con sigo con ¿asteroides en su orbita?.¿ Que riesgo tiene nuestro planeta , y nosotros?
what is wrong with you guys..LOL? I highly doubt this giant weird planet or dwarf star also i just think its how space rolls asteroids being sent to earth cause of this..? No heck no
i believe its caused by gravity...mabey their is a giant asteroid doing this shizzle fudizzle muhizzle
This is how the conspiracy cult operates. They insult your intelligence, set up their own theories as the only rational conclusion, slander everyone who fights their cult as shills for the new world order, and when you ask for evidence, it's all emotionalism and interpretation of data instead of rational investigation, it's disgusting.
That cant be true, I have a very nice telescope from walmart and I have never seen it, typical liberal crap.
Whaaaaaat?
Huh? What are you on about?
"your" ??? I take it YOU'RE not as educated as should be required to leave a comment.
Grammar, my dear. Grammar. Must be the brainwashed part of me that thinks you must go back to the first grade, or some level of primary school. Go on now. Back you go.
lol...I think your popswuzwrong!!