Researchers have identified a trans-Neptunian object, 2017 OF201, which might be large enough to be classified as a dwarf planet, sparking intrigue in the astronomical community. The discovery, confirmed by the International Astronomical Union, suggests that the region beyond Neptune is more active than previously recognized. While some hypotheses propose a ninth planet influencing the orbits of these objects, 2017 OF201’s peculiar characteristics and trajectory might be individually responsible for the unusual behavior, complicating existing theories of our solar system's dynamics.
The object's aphelion - the farthest point on the orbit from the Sun - is more than 1600 times that of Earth's orbit. Meanwhile, its perihelion - the closest point on its orbit to the sun - is 44.5 times that of Earth's orbit, similar to Pluto's orbit.
It must have experienced close encounters with a giant planet, causing it to be ejected to a wide orbit.
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