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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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don't call it a brown dwarf. we prefer african-solarian little star.
Haha. Nice
... or a pigment-challenged publicly-averse planet with star-potential.
Queue the music and play some circus music as it approaches
so does this mean that Tyche is going to fling a comet at us capable of extinction in 11 million years....
Not at all. Tyche actually flung the comet at us half way through its previous orbit so it should be here....tomorrow.
IT'S GOD! (just kidding)!
We got to destroy this "Tyche" before she destroys us!!
Ah screw it! I'm going back and play D&D in my Mom's basement!!!
can I join?
winner!!
We have a something with 4 times the amount of hot air than Jupiter right here on Earth. It's Sarah Palin!
we have something wtih 4x the hot air of Sarah Palin: Barack Obama.
we have something wtih 4x the hot air of Barak Obama: Mance Lotter
touche, paul. bravo for copying what was copied.
Great thing in life is WE the working sucker who is not related to the bildaburgs/rothchild/j.p morgan and a few several do not know anything in the system today,but welfare and losers. These ppl behind the scenes want you to be stupid and not learn so they can make there move(which will be soon)
They will chip you and brainwash you just like hitler did by burning down his own whitehouse and blamed it terrorism. Now america has stole hitlers way to keep YOu the sheeple intact. Great job sheeple keep up the great work. I do feel for the war vets that lost lives from a government who pays other countries to go to war with them. I do hope the ppl of america finally realize and halt any votes just like egypt did. POwer is THE PPL NOT THE SHEEPLE(IF YOU DECIDE TO AGREE WITH A GOVERNMENT)
good luck though, i will see you soon in this coming ww3 which starts in november of 2011.
You believe you're "HUMAN"? that is what "THEY" want you to believe. Don't be a Shuman yourself! Wake up! That red stuff coursing through your "body" is spacefuel. If you pour it into a duck, you'll finally be broken of the chains our alien captors want you shackled to.
See, it's easy to be a freakin' wierdo who makes no sense, so stop trying so hard!
You're just a little bit loony, aren't you!
Oh great, I can never find a duck when I need one!
bildaburgs empire:
I wish you luck in your 'obvious venture' of helping a nation. Your pessimistic view gets you no where. I suggest taking a more positive approach to directing the American citizens if you feel so passionate about them and their wrong doings... or maybe you don't offer positive suggestions because you're not smart enough to come up with any? You sound like a nagging house wife and your negative tone is just annoying to read.
BILDERBERG DAMNITTT!!!
I don't know maaannn!!! I'm penciled in for 2012 for the EOW... Which calendar are you using?
I think so, Brain, but where are we going to find a duck and a hose at this hour?
It's true. I've been there. And I brought back an unintelligent life form, more virus than anything. What a mistake THAT was, for it seems bent on destroying Earth.
I called it "Non-sensicus brownturdicus"
In the past 49 years it has morphed into a human form and has learned to procreate. I believe people on Earth have come to know it as "Obama"
Sorry humanity, I guess I shoulda brought back the rock instead.
lol...I think your popswuzwrong!!
What a sad sad life you must lead that every news article even about gas giants in the ort cloud leads you bash the president.
Lunatics on here people One Astromener made this saying it is out there there is scientist who say it does not exist they are just guessing have you ever heard DONT BELIEVE EVERYTHING YOU READ i feel sorry for the people who believe in doomsday theories when they cant live there life to the fullest and complain about this crap the world might end tommarow who no i no that when it does end i will have lived my life to the fullest and bildaburgs empire person who wrote about ww3 they have predicted WW3 and illuminti brainwashing people for Years since 2000 AD
The article is short on facts.
I think the gib gas ball is the folks posting here.
Just so you guys know this planet has had cycles of extinctions...It wasnt just a couple of times with the dinosaurs...Just saying...Learn your facts and act accordingly. Of course they would start talking about this once its already too late. unless some one here has been building a spaceship to live in while it destroys earth...lol
Great.....couldn't we find this mysterious planet after 2012? This us what nostradamus had predicated for the end of times....
A truthful scientist declares very VERY little as "impossible." Because most things can not be proven with 0% doubt as impossible. In fact, it is much easier to prove something as possible than impossible especially when talking about things that occur outside of our planet.
Too bad NASA's budget got slashed. Science and astronomy are so amazing, so many things still to discover.
True enough,but this type of speculation about a massive planet or very nearly dead Nemesis Star has been circling around for many years.In theory our sun has gravitational attraction to almost a thousand times Pluto's distance from the sun.It's just that a thorough search of the space out beyond Pluto has been inconclusive.When looking into scientific matters we should not be too positive of anything.Such a massive planetary body would be very difficult to find.
I think they should prepare the release of the info on this new Dwarf Brown Star for early September.
No way it wouldn't win on the new X Factor!
Dark Horse in Da House !