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How likely is that there are multiple smaller planets instead of one 9th, on the same side working as offset?
by NiceWayToDoIT 5y ago
How likely is that there are multiple smaller planets instead of one 9th, on the same side working as offset?
- Sharlin 5y agoThey’d have different orbits with different orbital periods so wouldn’t stay “on the same side” over millions of years.
- ncmncm 5y agoUnless they were a double-planet, similar to Pluto/Charon. (Those orbit a common center not inside either body.) To my knowledge, they are unique, in that, among known bodies, though it would not be surprising if there were a few tiny double asteroids.
- raxxorrax 5y agoSince we are talking about ~350AU (Pluto is at ~40AU), that may very well be the case. An easy approximation: https://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/bode.htm https://www.sjsu.edu/faculty/watkins/bode.htm
- koheripbal 5y agoGiven how far out they are, how far off the solar system axis, and how small, it's definitely possible that there are multiple objects.