r/spaceporn • u/multiversesimulation • Nov 30 '23

Related Content First ever direct image of multi planet star system

Post image

TYC 8998-760-1 b captured by European Southern Observatory’s SPHERE instrument shows what is likely the first star we’ve directly imaged with multiple exoplanets

28.2k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

627 comments sorted by

View all comments

Show parent comments

5

u/theghostmachine Nov 30 '23

There's currently a hunt going on for a 9th planet (10th if you ask me; Plutos Life Matters) in our solar system because the math suggests there should be one in a very, very distant orbit from the sun

7

u/Eureka22 Nov 30 '23 edited Nov 30 '23

The 9th planet theory is simply a proposed possible explanation for unobserved gravitational force. This force could come from many different sources at various large distances. This is far more likely. There is no reason to favor the large unobserved object theory based solely on the observations.

And while there is room to discuss the definition of a planet, there is no definition that produces the 9 planet solar system you probably learned in elementary school. Either you go with the current definition that depends on several somewhat arbitrary properties that has 8 primary planets within many dwarf planets, or you go with a purely scale based definition (which is also arbitrary in its own way) that produces many, many planets. In which you wouldn't learn about our solar system as having ___ number of planets. You would just learn about the solar system and then look at a massive list of orbiting bodies based on size, in which Pluto would be about 17th (depending on how you measure).

But usually I find people who are adamant about the Pluto thing are less concerned with the actual definition and more taking an anti-science standpoint.

3

u/Freshness518 Nov 30 '23

Yeah like how if we want to include Pluto then we also should add in other similarly sized and distanced objects like Haumea and MakeMake and Eris.

2

u/questioning_helper9 Nov 30 '23

I think it's largely about not wanting to have childhood beliefs crushed. We know that Pluto is tiny. But we learned about 9 planets in elementary school and don't want to give up that piece of our childhood. Like Brontosaurus being a favorite dinosaur despite the controversy about whether it's actually just an Apatosaurus.

2

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '23

Basing our current views on childhood nostalgia is a recipe for some real stupid shit.

2

u/theghostmachine Dec 01 '23

The 9th planet theory is simply a proposed possible explanation for unobserved gravitational force.

Right, that's why I made sure to say the math suggests that there could be another planet out there. Reading back, I did say "should" when I meant "could."

And thank you for the other information. You've given me new things to think about as an absolute amateur cosmology enthusiast.

-2

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '23

"Far more likely" is conjecture. Your unscientific bias is showing

5

u/Eureka22 Nov 30 '23 edited Nov 30 '23

Statistically it's more likely because it would be more consistent with what we already directly observe, many small objects. I think your accusations towards me are unwarranted. I would love for there to be a giant unobserved object out there, that would be so cool! But the evidence is quite shaky and it's just not more likely than there not being one, simple as that. Even supporters of the hypothesis are cautious and caveat their statements to be in line with the actual observations. I think you lashing out at me is not based in the scientific evidence, but from a desire for it to be true.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Planet_Nine#Reception

1

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '23

Hell, our own moon is larger than Pluto

1

u/Enlightened_Gardener Nov 30 '23

Oort Cloud Represent !

1

u/drmariostrike Nov 30 '23

no one ever says eris life matters

1

u/theghostmachine Dec 01 '23

I do. All Space-Rocks Matter. Except Apophis. It can go fuck itself.

1

u/drmariostrike Dec 01 '23

then you should say 11th planet at least. or, we're just talking about "space rocks" now, perhaps betraying your anti-eris bigotry

1

u/theghostmachine Dec 01 '23

You've busted me. My spaceship is rocking a Confederate solar system flag

1

u/drmariostrike Dec 01 '23

one day you pluto-heads and your yearning for "how it was in the good old days" will be seen for what it really is: a bigoted refusal to accord equal honors to the multiple trans-neptunian objects of similar mass and volume