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posted by takyon on Friday March 31 2017, @11:01PM   Printer-friendly
from the objective-search dept.

Australian National University reports:

Astronomers from The Australian National University (ANU) are investigating four unknown objects that could be candidates for a new planet in our Solar System, following the launch of their planetary search on the BBC's Stargazing Live broadcast from the ANU Siding Spring Observatory.

Lead researcher Dr Brad Tucker said about 60,000 people from around the world had classified over four million objects in space as part of the ANU-led citizen search for the so-called Planet 9.

"We've detected minor planets Chiron and Comacina, which demonstrates the approach we're taking could find Planet 9 if it's there," said Dr Tucker from the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics.
...
"We've managed to rule out a planet about the size of Neptune being in about 90 per cent of the southern sky out to a depth of about 350 times the distance the Earth is from the Sun," he said.

takyon: Estimates of Planet Nine's size put it at as little as half the radius of Neptune. The likely colder temperature of such a planet could result in a higher density.

The article mentions 2060 Chiron and 489 Comacina.


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  • (Score: 1) by charon on Saturday April 01 2017, @12:09AM (4 children)

    by charon (5660) on Saturday April 01 2017, @12:09AM (#487387) Journal
    Because it's people.
  • (Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Saturday April 01 2017, @02:12AM (3 children)

    by Nerdfest (80) on Saturday April 01 2017, @02:12AM (#487428)

    I *really* like the green. I think I'd like to keep it. Perhaps a slightly darker shade long term.

    • (Score: 3, Informative) by martyb on Saturday April 01 2017, @03:01AM (2 children)

      by martyb (76) Subscriber Badge on Saturday April 01 2017, @03:01AM (#487439) Journal

      I *really* like the green. I think I'd like to keep it. Perhaps a slightly darker shade long term.

      If you like it, and you have an account with SoylentNews you CAN keep it.

      (NOTE: During the entirety of April 1 (UTC), your personal preferences are being overridden, so there's no real way to test for sure until tomorrow.)

      1. Go to your preferences page [soylentnews.org]
      2. Click on the "Homepage" tab at the top.
      3. Scroll down a little to the "Select Theme" drop-down list box,
      4. Select "NV" (pronounced "Envy"... aka "The Green Monster" of emotions).
      5. Scroll to the bottom of the page
      6. Click on the "Save" button.

      And that's all there is to it! Enjoy!

      --
      Wit is intellect, dancing.
      • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 01 2017, @03:32AM

        by Anonymous Coward on Saturday April 01 2017, @03:32AM (#487449)

        Had to be said before we got back to red, and rally each day yelling, 'AMD is the way!' :)

      • (Score: 2) by Nerdfest on Saturday April 01 2017, @01:44PM

        by Nerdfest (80) on Saturday April 01 2017, @01:44PM (#487608)

        Thanks, I completely forgot about that.