Scientists discover mysterious new world

A surprising discovery has astronomers rethinking the edges of our solar system. Using advanced technology like the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers have spotted a new dwarf planet named 2017 OF201, which is about the same size as Pluto. Found by Sihao Cheng and his team at Princeton University while searching for the elusive “Planet 9,” 2017 OF201 has an orbital path unlike any seen before, extending far beyond what was once considered the solar system’s edge. Its closest approach is near Pluto and Neptune at 44.5 times the distance from Earth to the Sun, but its farthest point stretches a staggering 1,600 times that distance.

2017 OF201 takes about 25,000 Earth years to complete one orbit, nearly 10,000% longer than Pluto’s orbital period. Scientists are now fascinated by this planet’s extreme orbit, which suggests there may be hundreds of other similar objects hidden in the vast, previously empty region beyond the Kuiper Belt. Cheng believes this discovery will inspire further research to uncover other distant and unknown celestial bodies, revealing just how much of our solar system remains unexplored.