美科学家推测—— “行星Y”在扰动太阳系边缘天体轨道

Core Viewpoint - The research led by astrophysicist Amir Siraj from Princeton University suggests the existence of a previously undetected planet, referred to as "Planet Y," which may be influencing the orbits of distant celestial bodies beyond Neptune [1][3]. Group 1: Research Findings - The study published in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society proposes that the gravitational pull of "Planet Y" could be the reason behind the orbital anomalies of approximately 50 cold Kuiper Belt objects, with their orbits tilted by about 15 degrees [3][4]. - The analysis indicates a 96%-98% confidence level in the observed orbital tilt, which exceeds the gravitational influence of Neptune [4][6]. - Simulations suggest that a celestial body with a mass between Mercury and Earth, located 100-200 astronomical units from the Sun, could account for the observed tilt in the Kuiper Belt's orbital plane [4][5]. Group 2: Historical Context - The concept of an unknown planet affecting the orbits of Neptune and Uranus dates back to the 19th century, with the idea of "Planet X" proposed by astronomer Percival Lowell [5]. - The discovery of Eris in 2005 reignited interest in the search for distant planets, leading to the hypothesis of a "Ninth Planet" proposed by Mike Brown and colleagues in 2016 [5][6]. - The current "Planet Y" theory does not negate the existence of the "Ninth Planet" but offers an alternative explanation for the observed orbital distortions in the Kuiper Belt [6]. Group 3: Future Observations - The upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory in Chile is expected to play a crucial role in confirming the existence of "Planet Y" or the "Ninth Planet" through its extensive survey of the southern sky over the next decade [8]. - The observatory's capabilities will allow for systematic observations of distant celestial bodies, potentially leading to the direct detection of "Planet Y" within the first few years of its operation [8].