Planet Beyond Neptune

Horowhenua Chronicle, 24 March 1910, Page 4

Planet Beyond Neptune

Whether or not there is a planet beyond Neptune is a problem which has long concerned mathematical astronomers. Among those who have taken the trouble mathematically to settle the problem of such wi planet's existence is Prof. W. H. Pickering, who used the method of Leverries, the discoveror of Uranus. Prof. Pickering believes in the existence of at least one such planet, which he has designated by the letter 0. A search for this planet was recently undertaken by the Rev J. H. Metcalf with his 12 inch doublet, but without success. The reasons adduced in science by Prof. Pickering for this failure are the following: (a) The planet may be unexpectedly faint, or reddish in colour. Its compute magnitude is 13.5 (b) The orbit may be highly eccentric, the computation being based on approximately circular orbit. (c) The orbit may be highly inclined to the ecliptic, and "the planet at present situated far from its mode. For various reasons the first two causes are not thought sufficiently effective to interfere with the discovery of the planet. We might, analogy, compare planet O on account of its relative size and position with regard to the other planets, to the sixth or seventh satellite of Jupiter. The inclinations of the orbits of these two bodies are 28 deg. and 26 deg. respectively. The region already covered in the photograph search extends along the ecliptic for 25 deg., and reaches to a mixmum distance of 10 deg. to the north and south of it. It is expected therefore to make an examination of the higher latitudes next year. The number of stars already examined in the search is estimated at about 300,000.