What is the hypothesized role of Planet Nine regarding detached TNOs?
Answer
It is potentially responsible for the extreme orbits of objects like Sedna
Detached Trans-Neptunian Objects, such as Sedna, exhibit extreme and unusual orbits that are difficult to explain by the current architecture of known major planets alone. Some astronomers hypothesize that a massive, undiscovered world, often referred to as Planet Nine, may exist far out in the solar system. The gravitational influence of such a massive body could be responsible for carving out and maintaining the distinct, elongated, and detached orbits observed in these distant objects.
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