Mysterious deep-space object raises questions on Solar System's origins

PhysOrg ^ | December 13, 2005 | AFP

[r9etb]

If an object typically has an elliptical orbit of some random eccentricity, sometimes the major and minor axes just work out to be nearly equal.

Huh?

The problem is not one of "randomness," it's one of orbital mechanics.

[Netheron]

So two bodies can't have a gravitational interaction which throws one off of the plane of the ecliptic and just 'happens' to also have a circular orbit?

We've only got one body here to go on. If it was an entire accretion disk remnant (lots of co-planar bodies in circular orbits) off of the plane of the ecliptic, then we'd have a major theory malfunction.

[r9etb]

So two bodies can't have a gravitational interaction which throws one off of the plane of the ecliptic and just 'happens' to also have a circular orbit?

It could happen -- but the sticking points are that for the orbit to be as circular as this, the perturbing body must:

1. have been about the same distance from the sun when the conjunction occurred (the new orbit has to include the point of close approach);
2. have a pretty circular orbit (else it would probably have been spotted by now);
3. has got to be fairly large.

So where is the perturbing body?

We've only got one body here to go on. If it was an entire accretion disk remnant (lots of co-planar bodies in circular orbits) off of the plane of the ecliptic, then we'd have a major theory malfunction.

True. It's an odd duck -- and there's no good answer to how it got the way it is. Now that they've found this guy outside of the ecliptic they might try to find others. If they do, then indeed there's a major theory malfunction. If not, then they've got to explain this guy's orbit.

[SunkenCiv]

System of three stars harbors newfound world
MSNBC.MSN.com | July 13, 2005 | By Michael Schirber
Posted on 07/15/2005 4:08:14 AM PDT by eagle11
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1443405/posts

[SunkenCiv]

[SunkenCiv]

Comet's course hints at mystery planet [ from 2001 ]
Govert Schilling | last updated February 5th, 2002 | Govert Schilling
Posted on 08/18/2006 5:36:59 PM EDT by SunkenCiv
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1686125/posts

[SunkenCiv]

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[SunkenCiv]

Crisis In The Cosmos?
Science News Online | 10-13-2005 | Ron Cowen
Posted on 10/13/2005 8:15:33 PM EDT by blam
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1502092/posts