A team of astronomers from the Institute for Advanced Study and Princeton University have identified a potential dwarf planet far beyond Pluto. The object, designated 2017 OF201, is estimated to have an incredibly long orbital period of around 25,000 years. This means it takes 25,000 Earth years for 2017 OF201 to complete just one revolution around the Sun.
The discovery was made during a search for "Planet Nine," a hypothetical large planet thought to exist in the outer solar system beyond Neptune. While Planet Nine remains elusive, the discovery of 2017 OF201 provides valuable data about the composition and dynamics of the distant reaches of our solar system.
Further observations and analysis are needed to confirm the object's classification as a dwarf planet and to determine its precise orbital characteristics. This discovery adds to our growing understanding of the diverse population of objects residing in the outer solar system, including other dwarf planets like Pluto and Eris.
Possible Dwarf Planet Found Far Beyond Pluto
Astronomers may have discovered a new dwarf planet at the outer edges of our solar system. Called 2017 OF201, this object takes approximately 25,000 years to orbit the Sun. Researchers were initially searching for the hypothetical "Planet Nine" when they spotted this distant celestial body. The discovery offers new insights into the solar system's composition and potential outer limits.
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