-Caveat Lector- Superplanet Orbiting Beyond Pluto? An object bigger than Jupiter may be orbiting beyond Pluto, giving a gravitational kick to a group of comets traveling to the inner solar system. The mystery object would be faint, slow-moving and about 32,000 times farther away from the sun than Earth, says John Murray, an astronomer at the Open University in the United Kingdom. His research is to be published in next week's Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. Murray's theory is based on studies of what are called long-period comets, which are believed to originate in an area stretching 10,000 to 50,000 times farther away from the sun than Earth. Comets from this region, called the Oort Cloud, reach the inner solar system when their usual remote orbits are disturbed. He suggests that the gravitational effects from a large, unknown object -- at least as massive as Jupiter -- are responsible for disturbing these comets' paths. Murray is particularly interested in a group of these long-period comets that appear from directions strung out across the sky like an arc. Current theories of how the solar system was formed cannot account for the existence of a large planet so far from the sun. Astronomers say that if the object were 10 times bigger than Jupiter, it would be similar to a cool brown dwarf star and likely would have been detected. Murray speculates that the object, if it exists, would be like a planet and probably would have been captured and pinned into its present orbit during the formation of the solar system. By Irene Brown, Discovery News Brief Previous Brief Next Brief Related Stories Space Travel to the Stars Track Rogue Rocks Watch the Sun Cam DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
