• A new candidate for Planet Nine has been identified through analysis of archival infrared satellite data from IRAS and AKARI.
• The candidate object exhibits movement consistent with a large, distant planet, but its full orbit remains undetermined.
• The discovery is met with skepticism due to inconsistencies with previously predicted orbital parameters for Planet Nine and the need for further observational evidence.

Astronomers have been searching for Planet Nine, a hypothetical planet believed to reside in the outer reaches of our solar system. This planet, if it exists, could explain the unusual clustering and movements of objects in the Kuiper Belt. Recently, a team of researchers identified a potential candidate using data from the Infrared Astronomy Satellite (IRAS) and the AKARI satellite. This candidate, observed in surveys taken 23 years apart, exhibits movement that aligns with the characteristics of a distant planet, renewing interest in the search for Planet Nine.

• What: A potential candidate for Planet Nine has been identified through analysis of infrared satellite data, showing movement consistent with a distant planet.
• Who: Terry Long Phan (National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan), Mike Brown (Caltech), Konstantin Batygin (Caltech), Researchers at the University in Taiwan, Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)
• When: IRAS data from 1983, AKARI data from 2006-2011, candidate object identified in April 2025.
• Where: Outer Solar System, Kuiper Belt, observations taken by satellites in space, research conducted at National Tsing Hua University in Taiwan and Caltech.

The identification of a new Planet Nine candidate has sparked renewed interest in the existence of a hidden planet in our solar system. However, the findings are preliminary and met with skepticism from some astronomers. A key point of contention is the candidate's potential orbital tilt, which appears to be inconsistent with previous predictions for Planet Nine. Further observations are needed to determine the object's full orbit and whether it aligns with the expected characteristics of Planet Nine. The upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory holds the potential to provide crucial data that could either confirm or disprove the existence of this elusive planet.

I felt very excited. It's motivated us a lot.

Doesn't mean it's not there, but it means it's not Planet Nine. I don't think this planet would have any of the effects on the solar system that we think we're seeing.

All those people who are mad that Pluto is no longer a planet can be thrilled to know that there is a real planet out there still to be found. Now we can go and find this planet and make the solar system have nine planets once again.

The search for Planet Nine continues with the identification of a new candidate, but significant uncertainties remain. While the candidate exhibits movement consistent with a distant planet, its orbital parameters need further validation. The scientific community awaits more observational data, particularly from the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, to definitively confirm or refute the existence of Planet Nine and its influence on the outer solar system. The discovery highlights the ongoing exploration and evolving understanding of our solar system's boundaries.