Ep 8. Race to Planet 9

In the eighth episode of the second season of "Space's Deepest Secrets" titled "Race to Planet 9", the show explores the ongoing quest to discover the mysterious Planet 9.

For years, scientists have been investigating the strange orbital behavior of objects in the outer reaches of our solar system, believing that something massive and unknown is affecting their movements. This is what led astronomers to theorize the existence of Planet 9, a hypothetical ninth planet beyond Pluto that could explain the anomalies.

The episode follows the search for Planet 9, which has become a race between several teams of astronomers from around the world. Each team has its own method and proponents of the theories while continuing to debate to bring forward their evidence. The show interviews these scientists, who share their perspectives on the search and the evidence they have used to support their claim.

One of the teams has come up with a new technology that could help locate Planet 9. The team has designed an ultra-sensitive camera, which they believe could detect the planet's weak infrared glow. They plan to scan the entire sky, analyzing every pixel to find even the faintest hint of Planet 9's presence.

Other teams are using sophisticated computer simulations to study the movements of small, distant objects in the outer solar system. By tracing their orbits, they hope to piece together the puzzle of Planet 9's orbital path. Meanwhile, some are suggesting the planet might be a black hole or even a primordial black hole, which could provide a more stable alternative to dark matter without changing overall equations of gravity. The possibility of such things only adds mystery to Planet 9 exploration.

However, the search for Planet 9 will not be easy. The planet is thought to be 10 times the mass of the Earth and located far beyond Pluto's orbit, approximately 20 times farther than the sun from Pluto. The possible size of this planet drives astronomers to extreme measures that may take years to pan out. The teams will have to analyze vast amounts of data and scrutinize the tiniest details to find and confirm the presence of Planet 9.

As the episode draws to a close, it zeroes in on one team that believes they have discovered a tantalizing clue. They detected an object with a similar orbital behavior, and this object could be a moon of Planet 9, or a small planet itself. Confirmation of it could provide a breakthrough in the larger quest for Planet 9. While the discovery isn't definitive in finding the elusive planet, it gives hope to each team hopping to discover the hidden mystery that lurks beyond the Kuiper Belt.

"Space's Deepest Secrets" delves into the complexities of finding Planet 9 keeping the audience invested while providing a detailed insight into the question that could be on everyone's mind. Who will be the first to identify and discover this phantom planet? And, what does its existence mean for our understanding of the solar system and beyond?