The Most Incredible Science Events Of 2016

The Discovery Of A Mysterious Ninth Planet

In January 2016, a planetary astronomer at Caltech University named Mike Brown discovered evidence that there could be a ninth planet in our solar system found far beyond Neptune. Brown, who was also responsible for stripping Pluto of its planetary status, detected gravitational fluctuations in the outer planets and many outer solar system objects. These fluctuations could only be due to the presence of a massive object close to ten times larger than Earth. The new ninth planet is so distant that current estimates place its solar year - the time it takes to orbit the Sun - at 10,000 to 20,000 Earth years.