Scientists, telescope hunt massive hidden object in space
Some scientists think a brown dwarf or gas giant bigger than Jupiter could be at the outer reaches of the solar system. In this image showing relative size, the white object at the upper left edge represents the sun.
February 15th, 2011
09:03 AM ET

Scientists, telescope hunt massive hidden object in space

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.

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Filed under: Science • Space
soundoff (1,170 Responses)
  1. ddowner

    Believe it is out there and in 2150, give or take a few years; it finally destroys the Earth completely. It actually passes so close the earth is ripped apart. The Earth will be scattered as a debris field. I think a small number of Humans do survive however (probably due to small colonies established on moons other than the earth’s) and become something of a myth to other civilizations (not necessarily a positive myth I should add). The remnants of the Earth will be giving a name that reflects that most human beings were destroyed with it depending on what civilization you are speaking to.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • usarnaem

      Your comment reads like really bad science fiction, and is about as grounded in reality.

      February 15, 2011 at 2:19 pm | Report abuse |
    • St. Germain

      ITS JESUS CHRIST 1000 YEAR REIGN THAT THE ELITE KNOW ITS COMING, ALIENS WERE CREATED TO SERVE MAN, BUT THEY REFUSED NOW THEIR DESTRUCTION AWAITS BY GOD AND HIS SON, FOR HE CREATED THE HEAVENS AND THE UNIVERSE AND OF COURSE MAN, GOD IS MAN HE DWELLS AMONG US AND HE SHINES HIS POWERFUL LIGHT INSIDE OF US SO THAT WE SHALL AWAKE AND REALIZE THAT WE ARE SONS OF A LIVING GOD,

      February 15, 2011 at 2:37 pm | Report abuse |
  2. Jugger

    "He killed me Mal. Killed me with a sword....how wierd is that?"

    February 15, 2011 at 2:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • wetpaperbag2

      Nice! I watch that movie at least once a month.

      February 15, 2011 at 3:10 pm | Report abuse |
  3. St. Germain

    ITS THE END OF THE WORLD AND HISTORY AS WE KNOW IT, NIBIRU IS HERE PEOPLE WELCOME PLANET X ITS FULL OF THE EVIL REPTILIANS AND THE FALLEN ONES, BEHOLD AETHIETS NOW IS THE TIME WHEN YOU LL REGRET FOR EVER NOT WANTING TO PRAY TO A MIGHT GOD NAMED JESUS CHRIST HE IS THE ONLY ONE WHO CAN SAVE YOU BECUASE THE RAPTURE IS NEAR, THOSE WHO THINK NOT SHALL BURN WHEN THIS PLANET X DWARF PLANET NEARS EARTH, THE EARTH IS CORRUPT BECAUSE ITS RULED IN SECRET BY THE ELITES WHO ARE NOT HUMAN BUT THE PUPPETS OF THE FALLEN ONES. I CAST PEACE AND LOVE UPON PLANET EARTH, LONG LIVE JESUS CHRIST ALPHA OMEGA KING OF KINGS LORD OF LORDS

    February 15, 2011 at 2:18 pm | Report abuse |
    • Surf_Dog

      The tin foil hat brigade is out in full force today.

      Phil Plait has said there is not enough data to confirm these findings, more study and observation is required. This object is so far out and remote being on the outer fringes of the star system as to be irrelavant to teh orbital dynamics of our planet. It is however of interest, if confirmed, regarding the development and formation of our system and thus worthy of study.

      February 15, 2011 at 2:32 pm | Report abuse |
    • redned

      OMG

      February 15, 2011 at 3:03 pm | Report abuse |
    • Andrew

      But aren't you claiming elite status by being one of the chosen?

      February 15, 2011 at 3:12 pm | Report abuse |
    • Nicholas Cage

      Oh would you please shut the hell up!

      February 15, 2011 at 3:18 pm | Report abuse |
    • wetpaperbag2

      Reptilian people live on planet Nibiru? So, reptiles (as we know them) can exist in -400 degree climates? What food sources do these reptiles eat? What vegetation grows in such an environment? If this planet exists, then they are likely underwater creatures close to underground/underwater vents. The only source of heat on such a planet would be internal since it's too far away from the sun to receive any radiant heat. And they would pose a threat to us how?

      February 15, 2011 at 3:22 pm | Report abuse |
    • Just Dave

      I really hope you are trying to be ironic. If you're serious you really need to seek some help from a therapist, or even a regular level headed pastor.

      February 15, 2011 at 3:24 pm | Report abuse |
    • John

      All myth. The facts of evolution cleared all of this up.

      February 15, 2011 at 4:00 pm | Report abuse |
    • Suchi

      We are the knights who say.....NIH.

      February 15, 2011 at 4:46 pm | Report abuse |
  4. UCFknightman

    Hare Krishna Hare Krishna

    Krishna Krishna Hare Hare

    Hare Rama Hare Rama

    Rama Rama Hare Hare

    February 15, 2011 at 2:25 pm | Report abuse |
  5. greenbird321

    it's NIBIRU!

    February 15, 2011 at 2:28 pm | Report abuse |
  6. 1101001101011

    That's stupid. If science has taught us 1 thing, its that behind every brown dwarf lies a spaceship with life-energy draining aliens that will take the form of beautiful naked women and walk around England for a bit until you get bored and turn off the movie.

    February 15, 2011 at 2:29 pm | Report abuse |
    • Hitchhiker

      We come in peace. Ack, Ack Ack Ack!

      February 15, 2011 at 2:56 pm | Report abuse |
  7. St. Germain

    BECAUSE OF HOW WE LIVE IS THE REASON EARTH WILL BURN, THERE IS STILL HOPE, PRAISE JESUS CHRIST LORD OF LORDS HE IS COMING SOON BUT FIRST THERE WILL BE A BIG WAR HERE ON EARTH WHICH WILL BE THE BATTLE OF THE GODS, ALTHOUGH JESUS CHRIST IS ALMIGHTY!!! BEHOLD THE POWER OF GOD, FOR IT SHALL BURN ALL EVIL DWELLERS AND ITS REPTILIAN AND GREYS, BEHOLD THE LION OF ZION LORD GOD.........AMEN

    February 15, 2011 at 2:29 pm | Report abuse |
    • Panicy Pete

      My cat's breath smells like catfood

      February 15, 2011 at 2:33 pm | Report abuse |
    • Hitchhiker

      My cats breath smells like a$$

      February 15, 2011 at 2:55 pm | Report abuse |
    • Andrew

      I'll bet you're the first to burn on a pike....

      February 15, 2011 at 3:13 pm | Report abuse |
    • ted

      There is something really evil about the way the bible is worded .
      I would think that My GOD would not want his name on it.

      February 15, 2011 at 4:16 pm | Report abuse |
    • Suchi

      Praise jesssssuss... Oh damn, I'm going to watch passion of the crhist as nemesis comes, thatbwas a good f movie.

      February 15, 2011 at 4:44 pm | Report abuse |
  8. jrm

    a brown dwarf – thats racist and politically incorrect.

    there's a brown dwarf floating in my toilet.

    gas giant, that's me after 3 bean burritos

    February 15, 2011 at 2:31 pm | Report abuse |
  9. Panicy Pete

    Dang, this wasn't supposed to be released until 4/1

    February 15, 2011 at 2:31 pm | Report abuse |
  10. St. Germain

    BEHOLD THERE ARE MANY WHO WORK ON THE DARK SIDE AND WANT HUMAS TO REMAIN IN IGNORANCE, THEY ARE MASONS BUT NOT THE GOOD ONES THE LUCIERIANS MASONS ARE THE WORLDS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY PRAISE THE DEVIL HIMSELF IN SECRET ALTHOUGH TRUTH IS NOW IN THE LIGHT BEHOLD JESUS CHRIST!!!

    February 15, 2011 at 2:31 pm | Report abuse |
    • Panicy Pete

      Grandma talked like that when she went to sleep in her forever box.

      February 15, 2011 at 2:36 pm | Report abuse |
    • usarnaem

      I'm surprised your handlers allowed you access to the internet. How long until you get put back into the straight jacket?

      February 15, 2011 at 3:02 pm | Report abuse |
  11. St. Germain

    I WASNT BORN TO PERISH IN A BOX I WAS BORN TO BURN REPTILES AND TO WORSHIP GOD ALMIGHTY

    February 15, 2011 at 2:39 pm | Report abuse |
    • Observer

      We'd be more impressed if you could figure out how to properly use a caps lock.

      February 15, 2011 at 2:51 pm | Report abuse |
    • Andrew

      God wants you to throw yourself off a cliff.....

      February 15, 2011 at 3:17 pm | Report abuse |
    • beliver

      Trust in Him, he is the wind beneath your wings, so jump.

      February 15, 2011 at 3:34 pm | Report abuse |
    • EVEE IVEE OVER

      Just don't burn yourself while doing these things.......

      February 15, 2011 at 4:19 pm | Report abuse |
  12. Travis + Julie

    Wow. Could be anything!!

    Well, if it is the End of Days, we would LOVE it if you would spend it watching our "Omosis" video on our "Travisjuliechannel" on Youtube!! Check it out!!

    Best,

    Travis + Julie

    February 15, 2011 at 2:41 pm | Report abuse |
  13. Dixie Normous

    It's a cookbook!!! A COOKBOOK!!!!!

    February 15, 2011 at 2:42 pm | Report abuse |
    • Howard Markowitz

      Rod Serling lives!

      February 15, 2011 at 5:05 pm | Report abuse |
  14. rivirivi

    Please quote me in this: There is NO going to be an end of days for this beautiful planet Earth for a very very long long long, did I say looooong time. It is not going to happen in 2012 but more like in 45657878982738278973897283999933333 years.
    Got it?

    February 15, 2011 at 2:50 pm | Report abuse |
  15. TheBossIsOut

    They've managed to cloak the Death Star. It's heading for us. We're all going to die!!!!! It's really true after all – the world will end in 2012! Eeeeeeeeeeee.....

    February 15, 2011 at 2:50 pm | Report abuse |
    • EVEE IVEE OVER

      If you feel the world is coming to an end...Prepare to meet your maker.....just saying....

      February 15, 2011 at 4:23 pm | Report abuse |
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