Scientists Have Found A Ninth Planet And It's A Way Better Ninth Planet Than Pluto Ever Was

Remember how we used to call Pluto a planet, but then took it back, as if we were Mr. Sheffield from The Nanny (which is a super-current reference for all you readers)?

Caltech researchers have discovered that, surprise, there actually is a ninth planet floating out there in the solar system, beyond Neptune. It just ain’t Pluto.

According to Caltech, evidence has been found of “a giant planet tracing a bizarre, highly elongated orbit in the outer solar system.”

The super-geniuses at Caltech have nicknamed this ninth planet, wait for it, Planet Nine. (Okay, so naming things isn’t their strong suit.)

Planet Nine has a mass 10 about times the mass of the Earth. It also apparently takes between 10,000 and 20,000 Earth years to make just one full orbit around the sun. And you thought January dragged here.

Unfortunately, the researchers responsible for the finding are yet to observe Planet Nine directly. Rather, they’re relying on mathematical modeling and computer simulations.

Still, Caltech’s Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown want to assure us that they’re on the level.

"For the first time in over 150 years, there is solid evidence that the solar system's planetary census is incomplete,” Batygin said.

"This would be a real ninth planet," added Brown, throwing one final shoulder in the direction of demoted dwarf planet Pluto.

Since it’s 5000 times bigger than Pluto, it’s unlikely Planet Nine will ever face a similar, shameful discrediting.

Brown also says that Planet Nine dominates such a large region, it’s "the most planet-y of the planets in the whole solar system."

You can read all about how they came to the discovery here.

Anyway, is that story a good enough reason to share this?

Picture: Infrared Processing and Analysis Center (IPAC) of Caltech.