New Planet?

On January 8, 2005, three scientists were studying the solar system. They were surprised to see something new in the sky. It was large and bright. Even people who studied the stars for fun were able to see it. These people are called amateur astronomers.

The object was much bigger than Pluto. Its orbit, or path, around the sun was different from the other planets. People started asking questions. Was it a planet or not? No one knew for sure. Everyone had his or her own opinion.

Michael A. Brown, one of the three scientists, believed it was a planet because of its size and distance. A man named Alan Boss did not agree. Alan is a theorist, a person who studies guesses. He believes that if we call it a “planet,” we are not being fair to the bigger planets in the solar system.

Michael Brown has continued to collect information on the bright object. He feels sure it is a planet. He is trying to find out about how big it is. He wants to know how much it weighs. He wants to know what it is made of.

Michael has made up a name for the planet. However, he is keeping the name a secret. He won’t tell until it is known if it is really a planet or just another bright light in the sky.