Scientists say another Earth-like planet may be hiding in our solar system

As if the so-called 'Planet 9' wasn't interesting enough, researchers with the University of Arizona have detailed a newly discovered 'planetary mass object' that could prove to be a Planet 10. This object is said to be in the fringes of our own solar system, and all signs point toward it being a yet-undiscovered planet. If it is, researchers estimate that its mass lies somewhere between that of Earth and Mars. As well, this possible planet is said to be much closer than Planet 9.

Details about the findings were recently published in Astronomical Journal, where both Renu Malhotra and Kat Volk detail the reasons why this object may be a new planetary body. The planet's existence is being hinted at by Kuiper Belt objects (KBOs) on the edges of our solar system; 'Planet 10' is said to be 'controlling the orbital planes' of these objects.

The planet's existence is suspected due to the unusual tilt of the KBOs, according to the University of Arizona researchers; they're titled away from what is called the invariable plane by ~8%, unlike other KBOs. This leaves a big mystery about what could be causing this unusual tilt, and so far all signs point toward something massive...something that could have the mass of Mars.

Thanks to a bunch of complex calculations, the researchers have reason to believe that the unusual KBO observations are not due to a 'fluke,' but rather something concrete and worth investigating. Planet 9 likely isn't the cause, as it is far too massive with a mass about ten times that of Earth, not to mention its distance from the KBOs. The possibility does remain, though, that more than one planetary body could be causing the effects.

SOURCE: The University of Arizona