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The new theory of gravity rules out the existence of dark matter and the Ninth Planet.
There are believed to be eight planets in our solar system. However, some scientists claim that there is a ninth.
It is worth noting that this hypothesis does not concern Pluto, but is based on the assumption that there is a huge unknown planet on the far borders of the solar system. However, a new study suggests an alternative explanation: the features of the outer solar system may be related to modified theories of gravity, which can replace the idea of dark matter.
In the 19th century, astronomers noticed that the orbit of Uranus did not meet forecasts, and suggested the influence of gravity from an unknown object. Neptune was soon discovered. In 2016, astronomers again suggested the existence of an unknown planet, based on the strange orbital patterns of objects in the Kuiper Belt.
But now a team of scientists is offering a radical solution: a modification of the theory of gravity. Despite the fact that Newton's law of universal gravitation explains the structure of the universe well, it has gaps. For a century, dark matter has been considered the answer to these questions. But despite an active search, dark matter has not been detected. One alternative is modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), which has been confirmed in star clusters and in more than 150 galaxies.
According to a new study, if MOND really works, then the orbits of some objects in the outer solar system should eventually align with the Milky Way's gravitational field. The researchers were surprised to find that this is exactly what happens.
"This is a striking match," says Harsh Mathur, co-author of the study. "MOND explains observations at the galactic level well, but I didn't expect it to have a noticeable impact on the outer solar system."
However, despite the interesting findings, the authors acknowledge that the data sample is small and there are other possible explanations. The search for dark matter and Planet Nine is likely to continue.
Katherine Brown, co-author of the study, said: "This work shows the potential of the outer solar system as a laboratory for testing gravity and studying fundamental physics problems."
The study was published in The Astronomical Journal.
There are believed to be eight planets in our solar system. However, some scientists claim that there is a ninth.
It is worth noting that this hypothesis does not concern Pluto, but is based on the assumption that there is a huge unknown planet on the far borders of the solar system. However, a new study suggests an alternative explanation: the features of the outer solar system may be related to modified theories of gravity, which can replace the idea of dark matter.
In the 19th century, astronomers noticed that the orbit of Uranus did not meet forecasts, and suggested the influence of gravity from an unknown object. Neptune was soon discovered. In 2016, astronomers again suggested the existence of an unknown planet, based on the strange orbital patterns of objects in the Kuiper Belt.
But now a team of scientists is offering a radical solution: a modification of the theory of gravity. Despite the fact that Newton's law of universal gravitation explains the structure of the universe well, it has gaps. For a century, dark matter has been considered the answer to these questions. But despite an active search, dark matter has not been detected. One alternative is modified Newtonian Dynamics (MOND), which has been confirmed in star clusters and in more than 150 galaxies.
According to a new study, if MOND really works, then the orbits of some objects in the outer solar system should eventually align with the Milky Way's gravitational field. The researchers were surprised to find that this is exactly what happens.
"This is a striking match," says Harsh Mathur, co-author of the study. "MOND explains observations at the galactic level well, but I didn't expect it to have a noticeable impact on the outer solar system."
However, despite the interesting findings, the authors acknowledge that the data sample is small and there are other possible explanations. The search for dark matter and Planet Nine is likely to continue.
Katherine Brown, co-author of the study, said: "This work shows the potential of the outer solar system as a laboratory for testing gravity and studying fundamental physics problems."
The study was published in The Astronomical Journal.
