New Solar System Body Challenges 'Planet Nine' Hypothesis

Astronomers have discovered a massive trans-Neptunian object, 2023 KQ14, nicknamed 'Ammonite,' beyond Pluto's orbit. Its unusual elongated orbit challenges the 'Planet Nine' hypothesis, suggesting it might be much further than previously thought or even ejected from the solar system. This fourth known sednoid has a unique orbit compared to its siblings, yet its 4.5-billion-year stability hints at a dramatic early solar system event. The discovery underscores the complexity of the outer solar system and places constraints on the existence of 'Planet Nine,' even suggesting the possibility of a past planet being ejected.