The Digital Press

Astronomers may have found a strong candidate for Planet Nine, a hypothesized massive planet far beyond Neptune, by identifying a moving object in two infrared sky surveys taken 23 years apart.

Why it matters: Confirming Planet Nine would reshape our understanding of the solar system's structure and formation.

The big picture: Planet Nine could explain unusual orbits of distant Kuiper Belt objects and might be more massive than Neptune.

The stakes: Without follow-up observations, the candidate's orbit and nature remain uncertain, leaving its existence unconfirmed.

Commenters say: Many express excitement about the potential discovery but emphasize the need for additional data to verify the candidate.