Mercury is shrinking. Scientists think they have found a habitable planet but it’s 640 light years away. On Uranus and Neptune, some scientists have theorized that diamonds fall from the sky like rain. How well do you know our solar system? How well do any of us?
Astronomers are now open to the possibility of a ninth planet existing in our solar system. This is because of the odd behaviour of objects in the Kuiper belt, that would be explained by the existence of a planet. However, others aren’t too quick to accept this hypothesis. It has been proposed that a black hole the size of a grapefruit could help explain the same phenomena. None of these hypotheses have been confirmed.
Of course, the existence of ‘Planet Nine’, dabbed so as it is yet to be observed and named, has been the subject of interesting myths and conspiracy theories. In his book ‘The Twelfth Planet’ published in 1976, the late Zecharia Sitchin wrote his interpretations of Sumerian clay tablets that told the story of Nibiru, the home planet of the Alien Anunnaki. With an orbit that takes it far out to space, the planet’s existence is difficult to confirm and admittedly sounds as real as the avian gods of Ancient Egypt or Blue Avatars of India.
Test your knowledge of our little corner of space with this fun and surprising quiz.