For centuries, astronomers have speculated about the existence of a ninth planet, dubbed “Planet X.” However, a new study suggests that if Planet X ever existed, it may have left our solar system billions of years ago.

The study, published in the journal Nature Astronomy, examined the orbits of distant objects in the Kuiper belt, a ring of icy bodies that extends beyond Neptune. The researchers found that the orbits of these objects are stable and have not been significantly disturbed in billions of years. This suggests that there is no large, undiscovered planet currently orbiting the sun.

“Our findings suggest that there is no need to continue searching for a large, ninth planet like the one that astronomers have been searching for for centuries,” said lead author Dr. Yinuo Huang of the California Institute of Technology.

The loss of Planet X would have a significant impact on our understanding of the early solar system. It is thought that Planet X may have played a role in shaping the orbits of the giant planets and in scattering comets into the inner solar system.

The new study does not rule out the possibility of smaller, undiscovered planets in the outer solar system. However, it does suggest that there is no need to continue searching for a large, ninth planet.

More research is needed to confirm the findings and to determine the full implications of the loss of Planet X. However, the new study is a major step forward in our understanding of this elusive world.

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