Astronomy: scientist claims discovery of Planet X

An object as big or even larger than Pluto was discovered in the outlying regions of the solar system, as announced on 29 July 2005. This object is a typical member of the Kuiper belt, and in 2005 its sheer size in relation to the nine known planets would mean that it can only be classified as a planet. However, the International Astronomical Union ruled on 24 August 2006 Pluto and this alleged Planet X, both in fact aren't planets. The claimed planet X was discovered in 2005 using the Samuel Oschin Telescope at Palomar Observatory near San Diego. The discovery was announced by planetary scientist Dr. Mike Brown of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, whose research is partly funded by Nasa. Scientists can infer the size of a solar system object by its brightness. The reflectance of this body is not yet known. Scientists can't yet tell how much light from the Sun is reflected away, but the amount of light the body reflects, puts a lower limit on its size. "Even if it reflected 100 percent of the light reaching it, it would still be as big as Pluto," Dr. Mike Brown said in 2005. "I'd say it's probably one and a half times the size of Pluto, but we're not sure yet of the final size. We are 100 percent confident that this is the first object bigger than Pluto ever found in the outer solar system." Related subjects >> Pluto no longer a planet >> The Edgeworth-Kuiper belt >> The Nemesis theory

Three pictures next to each other from the moving tenth planet. Artist impression of the distant planet.