‘Goblin’ world found orbiting at the edges of the Solar System

Re:‘Goblin’ world found orbiting at the edges of the Solar S... by brandmeyer on Tuesday October 02, 2018 @06:18PM (#18126172)

So, just using a 1/r relation for potential energy, and the ratio of perhelion to aphelion, this thing has only ~3% of the potential energy at the outermost point in is orbit compared to the innermost point. That's practically miraculous on its own, isn't it?

The paper authors are actually arguing for a Planet X which has had periodic encounters much weaker than that at a distance of a few hundred au.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:‘Goblin’ world found orbiting at the edges of the Solar S... by nprecup on Tuesday October 02, 2018 @08:30PM (#18126806)

Quite the change in distance from the sun. Btw, kinetic energy is proportional to 1/r, and is at a peak at the perihelion. Potential energy is highest at the aphelion.

It's orbital eccentricity is ~0.94!

[ Parent | on HN ]