New evidence supporting the existence of a hidden planet in our solar system has emerged, according to scientists.

Astronomers have long proposed the presence of an undiscovered planet to explain peculiar behavior observed at the solar system’s outer edges, far beyond Neptune.

Konstantin Batygin, a key proponent of this theory, claims that recent findings provide the strongest statistical evidence yet for the existence of this hypothetical “Planet Nine”.

The study focused on trans-Neptunian objects (TNOs) whose orbits are destabilized by Neptune’s gravitational influence.

Despite the complexity, researchers concluded that the most plausible explanation for these TNOs’ movements involves the presence of another planet.

Various simulations considered factors such as neighboring planets, galactic forces, and passing stars, with the model featuring Planet Nine yielding the best fit, the Independent has reported.

While alternative explanations exist, including past planetary influences, proponents assert that Planet Nine remains the most compelling hypothesis.

The Vera C Rubin Observatory, currently under construction in Chile, is expected to shed further light on this mystery upon its activation, as it will enable comprehensive sky scans to study the behavior of distant solar system objects.

The team’s findings are detailed in their paper, ‘Generation of Low-Inclination, Neptune-Crossing TNOs by Planet Nine’, available on arXiv.

Written by B.C. Begley