Astronomers analyzing decades-old infrared sky surveys may have found a possible candidate for the elusive Planet Nine — a hypothetical massive planet far beyond Neptune.

By comparing data from the IRAS and AKARI missions 23 years apart, the team identified one slow-moving object that fits Planet Nine’s expected behavior.

While promising, the finding is not conclusive, and more observations are needed to confirm if it is indeed the long-sought ninth planet, IFL Science has reported.

The study is currently available as a pre-print on arXiv.

Written by B.C. Begley