Abstract
Abstract The apparent clustering in longitude of perihelion ϖ and ascending node Ω of extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) has been attributed to the gravitational effects of an unseen 5–10 Earth-mass planet in the outer solar system. To investigate how selection bias may contribute to this clustering, we consider 14 ETNOs discovered by the Dark Energy Survey, the Outer Solar System Origins Survey, and the survey of Sheppard and Trujillo. Using each survey's published pointing history, depth, and TNO tracking selections, we calculate the joint probability that these objects are consistent with an underlying parent population with uniform distributions in ϖ and Ω. We find that the mean scaled longitude of perihelion and orbital poles of the detected ETNOs are consistent with a uniform population at a level between 17% and 94% and thus conclude that this sample provides no evidence for angular clustering.
Highlights
The apparent clustering in longitude of perihelion π and ascending node Ω of solar system bodies known as extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) motivated the hypothesis that the solar system contains a 5–10 Earth-mass planet (Planet X/ Planet 9) at 400–800 times Earths distance from the Sun (Trujillo & Sheppard 2014; Batygin & Brown 2016; Batygin et al 2019)
For the sake of comparison, we used the method presented in BB19 to test the consistency of each surveys detected ETNOs with its selection function
We first perform 106 iterations, sampling from our simulated detections a set of objects whose cardinality is equal to that of the set of real ETNOs detected by the given survey
Summary
The apparent clustering in longitude of perihelion π and ascending node Ω of solar system bodies known as extreme trans-Neptunian objects (ETNOs) motivated the hypothesis that the solar system contains a 5–10 Earth-mass planet (Planet X/ Planet 9) at 400–800 times Earths distance from the Sun (Trujillo & Sheppard 2014; Batygin & Brown 2016; Batygin et al 2019). Telescopic surveys observe a limited area of the sky, at particular times of the year, to a limited depth. These effects result in significant selection bias. The six ETNOs considered in the Batygin & Brown (2016, hereafter BB16) analysis were discovered in an assortment of surveys with unknown or unpublished selection functions, making it difficult to establish that the observed angular clustering was of physical origin
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