How many planets are there in our solar system?
If you thought the answer to that is easy, hold on to your thoughts.
Our solar system has five dwarf planets that we know of. The most popular of the smaller planets in our solar system is Pluto.
There could be at least two more tiny planets in our solar system that we never knew existed.
Not this Pluto:
Pluto- Mickey's dog (Credit Wikipedia)
This Pluto
Pluto: The dwarf planet
A study published in the Royal Astronomical society suggests that there might be two small planets in our solar system that we never knew of!
Fascinating! But how is this useful?
If the two new planets are confirmed, that will explain the behavior of Extreme Trans-Neptunian Objects or ETNOs, which are tiny planets beyond Neptune.
Studying the movement of these planets can suggest whether there are other planets nearby. Because the smaller planets are attracted by the bigger planets' gravity, they can give important clues on other planets.
How did the astro-scientists find out about these planets?
They looked at information collected by the Atacama Large Millimeter Array, a collection of radio telescopes in Chile.
But even the scientists are not sure whether there are just two such dwarf planets or dozens or many more?
Well, we will wait and watch till the mystery unfolds.
