Astronomers Track Stable 'Fossil' Orbit Supporting Planet Nine Theory

The search for a hypothetical Planet Nine beyond Neptune continues to intrigue astronomers, with the theory suggesting a massive planet influences the orbits of Kuiper Belt objects, or trans-Neptunian objects, whose paths appear erratic. Proposed by astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown in 2016, this planet is believed to have a significant gravitational pull affecting these distant objects, similar to how Earth's gravity affects the Moon's orbit. While mounting observational evidence supports this theory, some new discoveries challenge it; notably, the recently discovered sednoid named Ammonite has an orbital orientation that contradicts predictions made by the Planet Nine hypothesis, implying a more complex solar system. The object Ammonite's stable orbit over billions of years suggests it is a fossil from the early solar system, providing fresh insights into solar system formation. Meanwhile, astronomers have made a separate breakthrough in directly observing a planet forming within a protoplanetary disc around a young star, offering a rare glimpse into planetary formation processes. These findings underscore the dynamic and evolving nature of planetary science and our understanding of both our solar system and planet formation beyond it.