New Extreme Trans-Neptunian Objects: Towards a Super-Earth in the Outer Solar System

TL;DR

This paper reports the discovery of new extreme trans-Neptunian objects and provides evidence supporting the existence of an unknown massive planet in the outer solar system based on orbital clustering and correlations.

Contribution

It presents the discovery of two new extreme trans-Neptunian objects and the first outer Oort cloud object, supporting the hypothesis of a super-Earth in the outer solar system.

Findings

New extreme trans-Neptunian objects with orbits beyond 150 AU.

Orbital clustering consistent with influence of an unknown massive planet.

Significant correlations among orbital parameters indicating a possible super-Earth.

Abstract

We are conducting a survey for extreme solar system objects to understand Sedna and 2012 VP113 and determine if an unknown massive planet exists in the outer solar system. Two new objects, 2014 SR349 and 2013 FT28, are extreme detached trans-Neptunian objects, with a>150 AU and perihelia well beyond Neptune (q>40 AU). Both new objects have orbits with arguments of perihelia within the range of clustering of this angle for other extreme objects. One of these objects, 2014 SR349, has a longitude of perihelion similar to the other extreme objects, but 2013 FT28 is about 180 degrees away or anti-aligned in its longitude of perihelion. We also discovered the first outer Oort cloud object with a perihelion beyond Neptune, 2014 FE72. We discuss these and other interesting objects discovered in our ongoing survey. All the high semi-major axis (a>150 AU) and high perihelion (q>35 AU) bodies follow the previously identified argument of perihelion clustering as first reported and explained as being from an unknown massive planet by Trujillo and Sheppard (2014), which some have called Planet X or Planet 9. Finally, with the discovery of 2013 FT28, we find that the longitude of perihelion is significantly correlated with the argument of perihelion and orbit pole angle for all extreme objects. This previous unnoticed correlation is further evidence of an unknown massive planet on an eccentric inclined orbit, as extreme eccentric objects with perihelia on opposite sides of the sky (180 degree longitude of perihelion differences) would approach the inclined eccentric planet at opposite points in their orbits, thus making the extreme objects prefer to stay away from opposite ecliptic latitudes to avoid the planet (i.e. opposite argument of perihelia or pole angles).